“I did not know that children think the hard questions they ask are easy and thus expect easy answers to them, and that they are disappointed when they get cautious, complex answers.” ThinkingKnowsChildrenHardAsksEasyAnswersComplexesDisappointedCautiousHard QuestionsEasy Answers Author:Bernhard Schlink
“I thought that if the right time gets missed, if one has refused or been refused something for too long, it's too late, even if it is finally tackled with energy and received with joy. Or is there no such thing as "too late"? Is there only "late," and is "late" always better than "never"? I don't know.” IfsKnowsLongJoyEnergyLateToo LateRight Time Author:Bernhard Schlink
“I know that disavowal is an unusal form of betrayal. From the outside it is impossible to tell if you are disowning someone or simply exercising discretion, being considerate, avoiding embarrassments and sources of irritation. But you, who are doing the disowning, you know what you're doing. And disavowal pulls the underpinnings away from a relationship just as surely as other more flamboyant types of betrayal.” IfsKnowsFormImpossibleSourceTypeExerciseBetrayalAvoidingEmbarrassmentDiscretionIrritationConsiderateFlamboyantBe ConsiderateDisowning Book:The Reader Source: The Reader
“Or is there no such thing as 'too late'? Is there only 'late' and is 'late' always better than 'never'? I don't know.” KnowsLateToo Late Book:The Reader Source: The Reader
“I certainly know German colleagues in the US who try to be Americans, try to melt into Americanism, even before they get married and become American citizens. But I've never tried that.” KnowsTryingCitizensMarriedColleaguesAmerican CitizensAmericanism Author:Bernhard Schlink
“There's this old saying that, if you aren't particularly gifted in natural sciences, if you don't want to become a teacher or pastor or doctor, and don't know what else to do, then you become a lawyer. But I've never regretted it.” IfsKnowsWantNaturalTeacherDoctorsLawyerGiftedPastorNatural ScienceOld SayingNever Regret Author:Bernhard Schlink
