Renee Ahdieh Quotes

My soul sees its equal in you.

Some things exist in our lives for but a brief moment. And we must let them go on to light another sky.

What are you doing to me, you plague of a girl?” he whispered. “If I’m a plague, then you should keep your distance, unless you plan on being destroyed.” The weapons still in her grasp, she shoved against his chest. “No.” His hands dropped to her waist. “Destroy me.

I love you, a thousand times over. And I will never apologize for it.

You honestly expect me to breathe in a world without air?

You have a beautiful laugh. Like the promise of tomorrow.

It was because they were two parts of a whole. He did not belong to her. And she did not belong to him. It was never about belonging to someone. It was about belonging together.

Love is—a shade of what I feel.

There is no one I would rather see the sunrise with than you.

We women are a sad lot, aren't we?" "What do you mean?" "Strong enough to take on the world with our bare hands, yet we permit ridiculous boys to make fools of us." "I am not a fool." "No, you're not. Not yet.

Get up, Shahrzad al-Khayzuran. You kneel before no one. Least of all me.

This dangerous girl. This captivating beauty. This destroyer of worlds and creator of wonder.

So you would have me throw Shazi to the wolves?” “Shazi?” Jalal’s grin widened. “Honestly, I pity the wolves.

You are not weak. You are not indecisive. You are strong. Fierce. Capable beyond measure.

Shazi, I prefer the color blue to any other. The scent of lilacs in your hair is a source of constant torment. I despise figs. Lastly, I will never forget, all the days of my life, the memories of last night— For nothing, not the sun, not the rain, not even the brightest star in the darkest sky, could begin to compare to the wonder of you. Khalid.

The more a person pushes others away, the clearer it becomes he is in need of love the most.

It’s a fitting punishment for a monster. to want something so much—to hold it in your arms — and know beyond a doubt you will never deserve it.

Love is a force unto itself, sayyidi. For love, people consider the unthinkable...and often achieve the impossible. I would not sneer at its power.

And he smiled a smile to shame the sun.

She was a dangerous, dangerous girl. A plague. A Mountain of Adamant who tore the iron from ships, sinking them to their watery graves without a second thought. With a mere smile and a wrinkle of her nose.

From the stars, to the stars.

A shared history does not entitle you to a future, my friend.

A true plague of a girl. And yet a queen in every sense of the word.

I believe the stars align so souls can find one another. Whether they are meant to be souls in love or souls in life remains to be seen.

Be as swift as the wind. As silent as the forest. As fierce as the fire. As unshakable as the mountain. And you can do anything...

That is not the way of it. Your future is not set in stone, my dearest star. A coin turns on itself a number of times before it lands.

When she wound her fingers in his hair to draw her body against his, he stilled for breath, and she knew, as he knew, that they were lost. Lost forever. In this kiss. This kiss that would change everything.

And only those watching very carefully saw the Caliph of Khorasan lean back against the cushions and toy with the bangles on his wife’s arm.

It does not take courage to kill. It takes courage to live.

Her conviction wavered further. “I told you; don’t try to own me.” “I don’t want to own you.” She swiveled her neck to meet his gaze. “Then never speak of sending me away again. I am not yours to do with as you will.” Khalid’s features smoothed knowingly. “How right you are. You are not mine.” He dropped his palm from the door. “I am yours.

I know love is fragile. And loving someone like you is near impossible. Like holding something shattered through a raging sandstorm. If you want her to love you, shelter her from that storm…And make certain that storm isn’t you.

I’ve missed the silence of you listening to me.” Shahrzad attempted a weak smile. “No one listens to me as you do.” His expression turned quizzical. “You don’t wait to speak,” she clarified. “You truly listen.” “Only to you,” Khalid replied gently.

No. He was not here to wreak revenge. For revenge was trifling and hollow. No. He was not here to retrieve his wife. For his wife was not a thing to be retrieved. No. He was not here to negotiate a truce. For a truce suggested he wished to compromise. He was here to burn something to the ground.

Cut the strings, Shazi. Fly.

People fall in and out of love with the rising and setting of the sun. Rather like a boy who loves the color green one day, only to discover on the morrow that he truly prefers blue.

The only power any man has over you is the power you give him.

Two stubborn lovers, protecting each other from the very same threat.

When I was a boy, my mother would tell me that one of the best things in life is the knowledge that our story isn't over yet. Our story may have come to a close, but your story is still yet to be told. Make it a story worthy of you

To me, you are magic.

As always. As ever. As a rose to the sun.

Give me a meaningful love or a beautiful death!

The darker the sky, the brighter the stars.

Destiny was for fools. Sharzad would not wait for her life to happen. She would make it happen.

For a story was only as good as its villain.

I’ve never been angry to have been born a woman. There have been times I’ve been angry at how the world treats us, but I see being a woman as a challenge I must fight. Like being born under a stormy sky. Some people are lucky enough to be born on a bright summer’s day. Maybe we were born under clouds. No wind. No rain. Just a mountain of clouds we must climb each morning so that we may see the sun.

It's inevitable. When you meet the one who makes you smile as you've never smiled before, cry as you've never cried before... there is nothing to do but fall.

you are boundless, there is nothing you can't do.

I understand how difficult it is, putting your heart in someone else’s hands. But, if you don’t, how will you ever truly know a person?

You are first and foremost a person. A reckless, foolish person, but a person nonetheless. If I ever say you are not permitted to do something, rest assured that the last reason I would ever say so would be because you are a girl.

In the end, there is only time for love.

There is such strength in being a woman. But it is a strength you must choose for yourself. No one can choose it for you. We can bend the wind to our ear if we would only try.

And how will you know when you've found the elusive someone? I suspect she will be like air. Like knowing how to breathe.

A boy who'd thrived in the shadows. Now he had to live in the light. To live . . . fiercely. To fight for every breath.

It was never about belonging to someone. It was belonging together.

For nothing, not the sun, not the rain, not even the brightest star in the darkest sky, could begin to compare to the wonder of you.

The worst kind of lie—the kind shrouded in good intentions. The kind cowards use to justify their weakness.

When I was in the desert, I woke each day and carried on with my life, but it wasn’t living; it was merely existing. I want to live. You are where I live.

After all, every story has a story.

I love you, Shahrzad al-Khayzuran. There is nothing I would not do for you. Nothing I would not consider if it meant keeping you safe. The world itself should fear me if it stands between us.

If I am marching to my death, then I will march to it as a girl. Without fear.

The mighty Caliph of Khorasan. The King of Kings. Her beautiful monster.

if you ask me, the best way to go about flying is to cut the strings tying you down 

I've always believed a man is what he does, not what others say.

A trickle of blood slid down his arm. He felt nothing. He only saw it. Because nothing hurt like missing her. He suspected nothing ever would

For without a measure of arrogance, how can one attempt the impossible?

Sometimes we must fall forward to keep moving. Remain motionless—remain unyielding—and you are as good as dead. Death follows indecision, like a twisted shadow. Fall forward. Keep moving. Even if you must pick yourself up first.

There is a vast difference between meaning to do something and actually doing it.

No. He was not here to retrieve his wife. For his wife was not a thing to be retrieved.

Do not fear what the setting sun may bring. Where there is a setting sun, there is also a rising one.

Tonight is a night to turn heads. Make them remember you. Make sure they never forget. You are the Calipha of Khorasan, and you have the ear of a king." Despina put her hand on Shahrzad's shoulder and grinned at their shared reflection. "More important, you have his heart." She bent forward and lowered her voice. "And, most important, you are a fearsome thing to behold in your own right.

Sometimes," he gasped, "the family you choose...is stronger than blood.

Beauty fades. But a pain in the ass is forever.

You don't know the beginning of me." She trembled as she spoke. "And . . . you will never see the end.

The power behind words lies with the person.

It is a great gift to find lasting love - one that gives for every bit it takes.

The rose’s rarest essence lives in the thorns.

In her ear, he whispered, "Do better than this Shazi. My queen is without limitations. Boundless in all that she does. Show them.

But I'm not here to fight. I'm here to win.

Do you understand, Brat Calipha?” Despina continued. Shahrzad glanced over her shoulder at her handmaiden, in stalwart silence. Despina sighed. “On pain of death…you are as important to him as his own life.

So you intend to go through life never loving anyone? Just … things?” “No. I’m looking for something more.” “More than love?” “Yes.” “Is it not arrogant to think you deserve more, Khalid Ibn al-Rashid?” “Is it so arrogant to want something that doesn’t change with the wind? That doesn’t crumble at the first sign of adversity?” “You want something that doesn’t exist. A figment of your imagination.” “No. I want someone who sees beneath the surface-someone who completes the balance. An equal.” “And how will you know when you’ve found this elusive someone?” Shahrzad retorted. “I suspect she will be like air. Like knowing how to breathe.

This destroyer of worlds and creature of wonder.

You are saddened by love's importance in the emir's life?" He paused. "I am frustrated by its importance in all our lives.

You are—remarkable. Every day, I think I am going to be surprised by how remarkable you are, but I am not. Because this is what it means to be you. It means knowing no bounds. Being limitless in all that you do.

Did we come all the way here for a book, Baba?” “Just one, my child. Just one.” “It must be a special book.” “All books are special, dear.

I have learned above all is that no individual can reach the height of their potential without the love of others. We are not meant to be alone, Shahrzad. The more a person pushes others away, the clearer it becomes he is in need of love the most.

For his children, he would move mountains.

Some things do not have to be said. You didn’t have to tell me you were in love with Khalid Ibn al-Rashid. And I didn’t have to tell you I cried myself to sleep for weeks after you left. Love speaks for itself.

I love you, she said. Khalid lifted his head to hers. She placed a hand against his cheek. Beyond words.

Beautiful words were beautiful words, even to the most practical of minds.

Perhaps true weakness is weakness of the spirit

Until nothing at all existed between them. But shared breaths. And unspoken promises. Lies. And unshakable truth.

It's much easier to hate a memory. I would know.

She shook her head, though her shoulders trembled and her nails dug into her palms. “You are ridiculous, Khalid Ibn al-Rashid. I am just one girl. You are the Caliph of Khorasan, and you have a responsability to a kingdom.” “If you are just one girl, I am just one boy.” Shahrzad closed her eyes, unable to hold the fierce light in his gaze.

It's never been a question of who is going to let me behave a certain way; it's always been a question of who is going to stop me. I thank you for answering it.

You laugh very loud—as if you are the only one in the world,” Despina commented. Shahrzad wrinkled her nose. “That’s funny. My sister says something very similar.” “I assume it makes little difference to you.” “Why? You’d prefer I stop?” she teased. “No,” Khalid said, as he strode into the Grand Portico. “I would not.” “Sayyidi.” Despina bowed. He nodded at her. “I cannot speak for Despina. But you do laugh too loud. And I hope you never stop.

Shahrzad, I've failed you several times. But there was one moment I failed you beyond measure. It was the day we met. The moment I took your hand and you looked at me, with the glory of hate in your eyes. I should have sent you home to your family. But I didn't. There was honesty in your hatred. Fearlessness in your pain. In your honesty, I saw a reflection of myself. Or rather, of the man I longed to be. So I failed you. I didn't stay away. Then later, I thought if I had answers, it would be enough. I would no longer care. You would not matter. So I continued failing you. Continued wanting more. And now I can't find the words to say what must be said. To convey to you the least of what I owe. When I think of you, I can't find the air to breathe. And now, though you are gone, there is no pain or fear. All I am left with is gratitude. When I was a boy, my mother would tell me that one of the best things in life is the knowledge that your story isn't over yet. Our story may have come to a close, but your story is still yet to be told. Make it a story worthy of you. I failed you in one last thing. Here is my chance to rectify it. It was never because I didn't feel it. It was because I swore I would never say it, and a man is nothing if he can't keep his promises. So I write it in the sky- I love you, a thousand times over. And I will never apologize for it. Khalid

I failed you one last thing. Here is my chance to rectify it. It was never because I didn’t feel it. It was because I swore I would never say it, and a man is nothing if he can’t keep his promises So I write it to the sky - I love you, a thousand times over. And I will never apologize for it.

It was easy to be good and kind in times of plenty. The trying times were the moments that defined a man. And love? Love was something that did much to change a person. It brought joy as it brought suffering, and in turn brought about those moments that defined one’s character. Love gave life to the lifeless. It was the greatest of all living powers. But, as with all things, love had a dark side to it.

Are you finally starting to breathe in a normal fashion?” Shahrzad teased. “I must confess I find your behavior rather odd, considering you said only a child would be afraid to fly.” “I wasn’t afraid.” Khalid wrapped a forearm of corded muscle around her. She slanted a disbelieving look his way. “You just lied to me.” “I wasn’t afraid,” he repeated. “I was terrified.

In your honesty, I saw a reflection of myself. Or rather, of the man I longed to be. So I failed you. I didn’t stay away. Then, later, I thought if I had answers, it would be enough. I would no longer care. You would no longer matter. So I continued failing you. Continued wanting more. And now I can’t find the words to say what must be said. To convey to you the least of what I owe. When I think of you, I can’t find the air to b r e a t h e.