Failing to grapple with complexity actually turns out to be a pretty bad life strategy.

I could be worse, you know." "How?" I asked, teasing. "I mean, I have a work of calligraphy over my toilet that reads, 'Bathe yourself in the comfort of God's words,' Hazel. I could be way worse." "Sounds unsanitary," I said.

I don't really want to be the costar of anyone's life.

I know that books seem like the ultimate thing that's made by one person, but that's not true. Every reading of a book is a collaboration between the reader and the writer who are making the story up together.

... I didn't know whether to feel angry at her for making me part of her suicide or just to feel angry at myself for letting her go.

Augustus Waters was the great star-crossed love of my life. Ours was an epic love story, and I won’t be able to get more than a sentence into it without disappearing into a puddle of tears. Gus knew. Gus knows. I will not tell you our love story, because—like all real love stories—it will die with us, as it should.

I stood under the awning for a moment, but finally I decided that being in a bad mood with your friends beats being in a bad mood without them.