The Handmaid's Tale, a powerful dystopian narrative, resonates with audiences worldwide through its evocative quotes that delve into themes of oppression, resilience, and the complexities of human nature. In this article, we explore ten categories of unforgettable quotes from the haunting tale, each offering a chilling reflection on society and the human spirit. As we journey through these compelling phrases, readers gain insight into the author's vision and are invited to ponder the parallels with today's world. These quotes serve as a poignant reminder of the importance of freedom, individuality, and the relentless pursuit of justice, encouraging readers to reflect and engage in meaningful dialogue.
Quotes on Oppression
"Better never means better for everyone. It always means worse, for some."
"Nolite te bastardes carborundorum."
"A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze."
"Ignoring isn’t the same as ignorance; you have to work at it."
"Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub you’d be boiled to death before you knew it."
"Freedom, like everything else, is relative."
"We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces at the edges of print."
"A thing is valued, she says, only if it is rare and hard to get."
"We must be ruthless in our compassion."
"Every love story is a tragedy if you wait long enough."
"When we think of the past, it’s the beautiful things we pick out."
"As long as it exists, you can find' happiness here…"
Quotes on Resilience
"I will not be that girl in the box."
"If it’s a story I’m telling, then I have control over the ending."
"Nothing will change unless you make it change."
"We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces at the edges of print."
"I would like to believe this is a story I’m telling."
"The moment of freedom is the moment she has to lose."
"I keep walking with my face turned resolutely away, with the sun on my back."
"There is more than one kind of freedom, said Aunt Lydia."
"Maybe none of this is about control. Maybe it isn’t. Maybe it’s about who can do what to whom."
"Fear is a powerful weapon."
"Your own skin like armor, fragile and yet strong."
"Don't let the bastards grind you down."
Quotes on Identity
"Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub you’d be boiled to death before you knew it."
"As for my husband, she said, he’s just that. My husband. I want that to be perfectly clear."
"Isn’t it nice to imagine someone unwelcoming you home?"
"But those who can choose wisely, choose. To force a person, or make them choose between what they want... that is where the power lies."
"I avoid looking down at my body, not so much because it's unsightly ... but too sad."
"This may not seem ordinary to you now, but after a time it will. It will become ordinary."
"Maybe none of this is about control."
"The most important thing is to know your own mind."
"Red is the color of love, but it also is the color of blood."
"Be like the bird who, halting in her flight on a limb too slight, feels it give way but sings, knowing she has wings."
"The moment of freedom is the moment she has to lose."
"Our fingerprints don’t fade from the lives we touch."
Quotes on Power and Control
"Better never means better for everyone. It always means worse, for some."
"Maybe none of this is about control."
"The Commanders of the Faithful are anointed actually or indirectly through the laying on of hands by the Eye of God."
"Ignoring isn’t the same as ignorance; you have to work at it."
"A thing is valued, she says, only if it is rare and hard to get."
"We were the people who were not in the papers."
"Love? said Aunt Lydia with distaste. Don't let the bastards grind you down."
"Nolite te bastardes carborundorum."
"The moment of freedom is the moment she has to lose."
"A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze."
"Freedom, like everything else, is relative."
"You can’t help what you feel, but you can help how you behave."
Quotes on Female Empowerment
"There's more than one type of freedom, said Aunt Lydia."
"Don't let the bastards grind you down."
"There's a freedom to, and there's a freedom from"
"We were the people who were not in the papers."
"Ignoring isn’t the same as ignorance; you have to work at it."
"Freedom, like everything else, is relative."
"A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze."
"Better never means better for everyone. It always means worse, for some."
"I will not be that girl in the box."
"Be like the bird who, halting in her flight on a limb too slight."
"Your own skin like armor, fragile and yet strong."
"Nothing will change unless you make it change."
Quotes on Society and Change
"Better never means better for everyone. It always means worse, for some."
"Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub you’d be boiled to death before you knew it."
"Better never means better for everyone."
"Freedom, like everything else, is relative."
"A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze."
"Maybe none of this is about control."
"Ignoring isn’t the same as ignorance; you have to work at it."
"Your own skin like armor, fragile and yet strong."
"The Commanders of the Faithful are anointed actually."
"Nothing will change unless you make it change."
"Be like the bird who, halting in her flight on a limb too slight."
"There is more than one kind of freedom, said Aunt Lydia."
Quotes on Love and Loss
"Better never means better for everyone. It always means worse, for some."
"Every love story is a tragedy if you wait long enough."
"Your own skin like armor."
"Isn’t it nice to imagine someone unwelcoming you home?"
"A thing is valued, she says, only if it is rare and hard to get."
"When we think of the past, it’s the beautiful things we pick out."
"As long as it exists, you can find happiness here…"
"Ignoring isn’t the same as ignorance; you have to work at it."
"Be like the bird who, halting in her flight on a limb too slight."
"Our fingerprints don’t fade from the lives we touch."
"Maybe none of this is about control."
"But those who can choose wisely, choose."
Quotes on Hope and Despair
"Ignored isn’t the same as ignorance; you have to work at it."
"A rat in a maze can still feel like it's free."
"Every love story is a tragedy if you wait long enough."
"Freedom, like everything else, is relative."
"Red is the color of love, but it also is the color of blood."
"Nothing will change unless you make it change."
"You can't help what you feel, but you can help how you behave."
"Love? said Aunt Lydia with distaste."
"The most important thing is to know your own mind."
"The moment of freedom is the moment she has to lose."
"This may not seem ordinary to you now, but after a time it will."
"Isn’t it nice to imagine someone unwelcome you home?"
Quotes on Freedom
"There is more than one kind of freedom, said Aunt Lydia."
"Freedom, like everything else, is relative."
"There’s more than one type of freedom, said Aunt Lydia."
"Don’t let the bastards grind you down."
"Freedom, like everything else, is relative."
"A thing is valued, she says, only if it is rare and hard to get."
"I will not be that girl in the box."
"Duration doesn't really matter, it's the change that is significant."
"Be like the bird who, halting in her flight on a limb too slight."
"We were the people who were not in the papers."
"A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere."
"I keep walking with my face turned resolutely away."
Quotes on Resistance
"I will not be that girl in the box."
"If it’s a story I’m telling, then I have control over the ending."
"There's a freedom to, and there's a freedom from."
"Don't let the bastards grind you down."
"The moment of freedom is the moment she has to lose."
"Nothing will change unless you make it change."
"Your own skin like armor, fragile and yet strong."
"Fear is a powerful weapon."
"Duration doesn't really matter; it's the change that is significant."
"A rat in a maze can still feel like it's free."
"There's more than one type of freedom, said Aunt Lydia."
"Better never means better for everyone."
Final words
The Handmaid's Tale remains a powerful narrative woven with themes of dystopian oppression, identity, and the pursuit of freedom. Through the exploration of its many evocative quotes, readers are invited to reflect on the core of human struggles and resilience, challenging the notions of control, love, and societal structures. Each quote echoes the fears and hopes within a controlled society, urging an introspection that is both timeless and relevant. In conclusion, these collected quotes not only portray the vivid imagery of the story but also serve as a testament to the enduring human spirit, sparking conversations about freedom and the importance of challenging oppressive systems to forge a path toward a more equitable future.
