is a young adult novel that takes place in a future where society is tightly controlled and sameness is highly valued. In the world created by author , people no longer perceive colors or feel strong emotions, and memories of the past relating to subjects such as pain and war no longer exist in the population. The story is told from the perspective of Jonas, a young boy who has been given the role of Receiver of Memory. Working with a man known as The Giver, Jonas is suddenly exposed to emotions and concepts he has never experienced, including the feeling of love. These events set Jonas's life on a wholly unexpected path as he begins to understand the society that has been his home.
Here are 30+ of the best quotes from The Giver, offering a thought-provoking exploration of its key themes.
The best quotes from The Giver on freedom and choice
"If everything's the same, then there aren't any choices! I want to wake up in the morning and decide things!"
"It's the choosing that's important, isn't it?"
"What if they were allowed to choose their own mate? And chose wrong?"
"Always better, less rude, to talk about things that were the same."
“His mind reeled. Now, empowered to ask questions of utmost rudeness–and promised answers-he could, conceivably (though it was almost unimaginable), ask someone, some adult, his father perhaps: ‘Do you lie?’ But he would have no way of knowing if the answer he received was true.”
"Jonas tried to be brave. He remembered that the Chief Elder had said he was brave."
"We gained control of many things. But we had to let go of others."
"I have great honor. So will you. But you will find that that is not the same as power."
The best quotes from The Giver on loneliness and isolation
"They have never known pain, he thought. The realization made him feel desperately lonely."
"They were satisfied with their lives which had none of the vibrance his own was taking on. And he was angry at himself, that he could not change that for them."
"I feel sorry for anyone who is in a place where he feels strange and stupid."
"After Twelve, age isn't important. Most of us even lose track of how old we are as time passes."
"The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It's the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared."
