Four geological eras had to pass so that human beings would be able to outsing the birds and die for love.

It always amuses me that the biggest praise for my work comes for the imagination, while the truth is that there's not a single line in all my work that does not have a basis in reality. The problem is that Caribbean reality resembles the wildest imagination.

She likes to try everything, out of curiosity, but she'll be sorry if she isn't guided by her heart.

She knew that he loved her above all else, more than anything in the world, but only for his own sake.

It was also her nature that caused her letters to avoid emotional pitfalls and confine themselves to relating the events of her daily life in the utilitarian style of a ship's log. In reality they were distracted letters, intended to keep the coals alive without putting her hand in the fire, while Florentino Ariza burned himself alive in every line.

There's no greater misfortune than dying alone.

Lost in the solitude of his immense power, he began to lose direction.