Behind every trial and sorrow that He makes us shoulder, God... - Khaled Hosseini, A Thousand Splendid Suns

"At times , he didn't understand the meaning of the Koran's words . But he said he liked the enhancing sounds the arabic words made as they rolled off his tongue . He said they comforted him , eased his heart . "They'll comfort you too . Mrariam jo , "he said . "You can summon then in your time of your need , and they won't fail you . God's words will never betray you , my girl . (pg.17)"

"Marriage can wait, education cannot."

"I will follow you to the ends of the world."

"She wished she could visit Mariam's grave, to sit with her awhile, leave a flower or two. But she sees now that it doesn't matter. Mariam is never very far.... Mariam is in her own heart, where she shines with the bursting radiance of a thousand suns."

"And the past held only this wisdom: that love was a damaging mistake, and its accomplice, hope, a treacherous illusion. And whenever those twin poisonous flowers began to sprout in the parched land of that field, Mariam uprooted them. She uprooted them and ditched them before they took hold."