Normal, in our house, is like a blanket too short for a bed--sometimes it covers you just fine, and other times it leaves you cold and shaking; and worst of all, you never know which of the two it's going to be.
Jodi PicoultRead
Things that break - be they bones, hearts, or promises - can be put back together but will never really be whole.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Things that are broken can be repaired, but they often remain flawed.
This quote from Jodi Picoult emphasizes the concept that while healing and mending are possible after experiencing pain or loss—whether it be physical injuries, emotional heartbreak, or broken commitments—there is a lasting impact that prevents a complete restoration to their original state. The idea conveys that some experiences leave scars that may not heal fully, reminding us of the fragility of life and relationships.
Themes
BrokenHealingWholenessPainRelationships
In practice
Example use cases
During a support group meeting, one could use this quote to remind participants that although healing is possible, it’s normal to feel incomplete.
More from Jodi Picoult
All quotes →Whether it was power they sought, or revenge, or love-well, those were all just different forms of hunger. The bigger the hole inside you, the more desperate you became to fill it.
Jodi PicoultRead
she told me she'd be a phoenix." The image of the mythical creature rising from the ashes glitters in my mind. "They don't really exist." "She said that depends on whether or not there's someone who can see them.
Jodi PicoultRead
for 100,000 (dollars), you [can] flatten a house with a wrecking ball. Imagine how much less it [takes] to destroy something than it [does] to build it in the first place.
Jodi PicoultRead
But if you seek forgiveness, doesn't that automatically mean you cannot be a monster? By definition, doesn't that desperation make you human again?
Jodi PicoultRead
when you [lose someone], it feels like the hole in your gum when a tooth falls out. You can chew, you can eat, you have plenty of other teeth, but your tongue keeps going back to that empty place, where all nerves are still a little raw
Jodi PicoultRead
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