Summary: Delving into the world of literature’s most haunting dystopia, “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood, we explore the profound and often chilling quotes that resonate with readers about power, resistance, and human spirit. This exploration, segmented into themes, highlights how Atwood's memorable lines capture the human psyche in oppressive reality. Each segment, enriched with twelve poignant quotes, offers a closer look at how language shapes our understanding of freedom, identity, and resilience. The timelessness of these expressions ensures their relevance in current societal discussions about rights and autonomy.
Quotes on Power and Control
“Better never means better for everyone... It always means worse, for some.”
“A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze.”
“The moment of betrayal is the worst, the moment when you know beyond any doubt that you've been betrayed: that some other human being has wished you that much evil.”
“Who can remember pain, once it's over? All that remains of it is a shadow, not in the mind even, in the flesh.”
“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.”
“Ignoring isn’t the same as ignorance, you have to work at it.”
“When we think of the past it's the beautiful things we pick out. We want to believe it was all like that.”
“We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces at the edges of print. It gave us more freedom. We lived in the gaps between the stories.”
“Freedom, like everything else, is relative.”
“You can only be jealous of someone who has something you think you ought to have yourself.”
“Now we walk along the same roads, in red pairs, and no man shouts obscenities at us, speaks to us, touches us. No one whistles.”
“To want is to have a weakness.”
Quotes about Resistance and Rebellion
“Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub, you'd be boiled to death before you knew it.”
“We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces at the edges of print. It gave us more freedom.”
“If I’m going to have a story, I might as well make it a good one.”
“Truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations.”
“But who can remember pain, once it’s over? All that remains of it is a shadow.”
“A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze.”
“Don't let the bastards grind you down.”
“Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub, you'd be boiled to death before you knew it.”
“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.”
“Ignoring isn’t the same as ignorance, you have to work at it.”
“The shells of the yesterdays fall off, like skin off a snake.”
“They cannot scare me with their empty spaces between stars—on stars where no human race is.”
Quotes on Freedom and Autonomy
“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.”
“Ignoring isn’t the same as ignorance, you have to work at it.”
“When we think of the past it’s the beautiful things we pick out. We want to believe it was all like that.”
“Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub, you’d be boiled to death before you knew it.”
“Better never means better for everyone... It always means worse, for some.”
“We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces.”
“A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze.”
“You can only be jealous of someone who has something you think you ought to have yourself.”
“Truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations.”
“But who can remember pain, once it’s over? All that remains of it is a shadow.”
“All this is pure speculation. I don't really know what men used to say. I had only their words for it.”
Quotes on Identity and Self
“The shells of the yesterdays fall off, like skin off a snake.”
“Truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations.”
“Better never means better for everyone... It always means worse, for some.”
“You can only be jealous of someone who has something you think you ought to have yourself.”
“A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze.”
“Freedom, like everything else, is relative.”
“But who can remember pain, once it’s over? All that remains of it is a shadow.”
“The moment of betrayal is the worst, the moment when you know beyond any doubt.”
“Ignoring isn’t the same as ignorance, you have to work at it.”
“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.”
“If I’m going to have a story, I might as well make it a good one.”
“Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub, you’d be boiled.”
Quotes on Society and Humanity
“When we think of the past it’s the beautiful things we pick out. We want to believe it was all like that.”
“You can only be jealous of someone who has something you think you ought to have yourself.”
“Better never means better for everyone... It always means worse, for some.”
“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.”
“Freedom, like everything else, is relative.”
“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.”
“A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze.”
“We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces.”
“Truly amazing, what people can get used to, few compensations.”
“But who can remember pain, once it’s over? All that remains of it is a shadow.”
“The moment of betrayal is the worst, the moment when you know beyond any doubt.”
Quotes on Fear and Hope
“Don’t let the bastards grind you down.”
“And so I step up, into the darkness within; or else the light.”
“We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces.”
“Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub, you’d be boiled.”
“Better never means better for everyone... It always means worse, for some.”
“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.”
“The shells of the yesterdays fall off, like skin off a snake.”
“If I’m going to have a story, I might as well make it a good one.”
“The moment of betrayal is the worst, the moment when you know beyond any doubt.”
“In the end he was walking into the wind, into a new chapter in the story.”
Quotes on Love and Loss
“The moment of betrayal is the worst, the moment when you know beyond any doubt.”
“Better never means better for everyone... It always means worse, for some.”
“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.”
“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.”
“If I’m going to have a story, I might as well make it a good one.”
“We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces.”
“Don’t let the bastards grind you down.”
“The shells of the yesterdays fall off, like skin off a snake.”
“They cannot scare me with their empty spaces between stars—on stars where no human race is.”
“Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub, you’d be boiled.”
Quotes on Memory and Remembrance
“When we think of the past it’s the beautiful things we pick out. We want to believe it was all like that.”
“The shells of the yesterdays fall off, like skin off a snake.”
“A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze.”
“You can only be jealous of someone who has something you think you ought to have yourself.”
“Better never means better for everyone... It always means worse, for some.”
“Ignoring isn’t the same as ignorance, you have to work at it.”
“Freedom, like everything else, is relative.”
“Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub, you’d be boiled to death.”
“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.”
“We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces.”
“But who can remember pain, once it’s over? All that remains of it is a shadow.”
“The moment of betrayal is the worst, the moment when you know beyond any doubt.”
Quotes on Faith and Belief
“They cannot scare me with their empty spaces between stars—on stars where no human race is.”
“A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze.”
“Truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations.”
“The moment of betrayal is the worst, the moment when you know beyond any doubt.”
“Better never means better for everyone... It always means worse, for some.”
“Ignoring isn’t the same as ignorance, you have to work at it.”
“Freedom, like everything else, is relative.”
“We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces.”
“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.”
“Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub, you’d be boiled to death.”
“If I’m going to have a story, I might as well make it a good one.”
“Don’t let the bastards grind you down.”
Quotes on Change and Transformation
“If I’m going to have a story, I might as well make it a good one.”
“Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub, you’d be boiled to death.”
“Better never means better for everyone... It always means worse, for some.”
“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.”
“Freedom, like everything else, is relative.”
“Truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations.”
“We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces.”
“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.”
“The shells of the yesterdays fall off, like skin off a snake.”
“The moment of betrayal is the worst, the moment when you know beyond any doubt.”
“And so I step up, into the darkness within; or else the light.”
Final words
In capturing the essence of "The Handmaid's Tale," we find ourselves not only reflecting on Atwood's society but also on our own. These quotes act as a lens, focusing our attention on issues of oppression, freedom, and individual identity. The resonant poignancy of Atwood’s words lies in their ability to transcend fiction and stir real-world reflection and upheaval. Amidst dystopian darkness, these quotes spark dialogue and inspire resilience—the ultimate reminder that even the thickest of clouds can part to reveal light. By understanding and sharing these transformative phrases, communities can advocate for a more just and equitable future, emboldened by the idea that words do indeed wield power.
浙公网安备
33010002000092号
浙B2-20120091-4