The light between oceans Quotes

“There are times when the ocean is not the ocean - not blue, not even water, but some violent explosion of energy and danger: ferocity on a scale only gods can summon. It hurls itself at the island, sending spray right over the top of the lighthouse, biting pieces off the cliff. And the sound is a roaring of a beast whose anger knows no limits. Those are the nights the light is needed most.”

“There are times when the ocean is not the ocean-not blue, not even water, but some violent explosion of energy and danger: ferocity on a scale only gods can summon. It hurls itself at the island, sending spray right over the top of the lighthouse, biting pieces off the cliff. And the sound is a roaring of a beast whose anger knows no limits. Those are the nights the light is needed most.”

“And the stars: the sky gets crowded at night, and it is a bit like watching a clock, seeing the constellations slide across the sky. It’s comforting to know that they’ll show up, however bad the day has been, however crook things get. That used to help in France. It put things into perspective—the stars had been around since before there were people. They just kept shining, no matter what was going on. I think of the light here like that, like a splinter of a star that’s fallen to earth: it just shines, no matter what is happening. Summer, winter, storm, fine weather. People can rely on it.”

“This focusing outward...painful as it was, saved her from a more intolerable examination.”

“It is a luxury to do something that serves no practical purpose: the luxury of civilization.”

“Then he remembered Ralph's words--"no point in fighting your war over and over until you get it right.”

“That's how life goes on - protected by the silence that anesthetizes shame.”

“Being over there changes a man. Right and wrong don't look so different anymore to some.”

“Other blokes might take advantage, but to Tom, the idea of honor was a kind of antidote to some of the things he'd lived through.”