And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer Quotes

“Our teacher made us write a story about what we want to be when we're big," Noah tells him.
"What did you write?"
"I wrote that I wanted to concentrate on being little first."
"That's a very good answer."
"Isn't it? I would rather be old than a grown-up. All grown-ups are angry, it's just children and old people who laugh."
"Did you write that?"
"Yes."
"What did your teacher say?"
"She said I hadn't understood the task."
"And what did you say?"
"I said she hadn't understood my answer.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“It's an awful thing to miss someone who's still here.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“The only time you've failed is if you don't try once more.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“Almost all grown adults walk around full of regret over a good-bye they wish they’d been able to go back and say better.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“I only had you for the blink of an eye,” he says.
She laughs. “You had me an entire lifetime. All of mine.”
“That wasn’t enough”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“But the universe gave you both Noah. He’s the bridge between you. That’s why we get the chance to spoil our grandchildren, because by doing that we’re apologizing to our children.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“Those who hasten to live are in a hurry to miss,”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“Isn’t that the best of all life’s ages, an old man thinks as he looks at his grandchild. When a boy is just big enough to know how the world works but still young enough to refuse to accept it.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“That's why we get the chance to spoil our grandchildren, because by doing that we're apologizing to our children.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“Humans are a strange breed in the way our fear of getting old seems to be even greater than our fear of dying.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“You were never easy, darling difficult sulky you, never diplomatic. You might even have been easy to dislike at times. But no one, absolutely no one, would dare tell me you were hard to love.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“He's not angry at you, he's angry at the universe. He's angry because your enemy isn't something he can fight."

"It's a big universe to be angry with, a never-ending fury.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“I would rather be old than a grown-up. All grown-ups are angry, it's just children and old people who laugh.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“It hurts less and less. That's one thing about forgetting things. You forget things that hurt too.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“Tell me about school, NoahNoah," the old man says...
"Our teacher made us write a story about what we want to be when we're big," Noah tells him.
"What did you write?"
"I wrote that I wanted to concentrate on being little first.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“The teacher wanted us to write what we thought the meaning of life was once.” “What did you write?” “Company.” Grandpa closes his eyes. “That’s the best answer I’ve heard.” “My teacher said I had to write a longer answer.” “So what did you do?” “I wrote: Company. And ice cream.” Grandpa spends a moment or two thinking that over. Then he asks: “What kind of ice cream?” Noah smiles. It’s nice to be understood.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“And I don’t think you need to be scared of forgetting me,” the boy says
“No?”
“No. Because if you forget me then you’ll just get the chance to get to know me again. And you’ll like that, because I’m actually a pretty cool person to get to know.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“It’s about fear and love, and how they seem to go hand in hand most of the time.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“Tell me that that’s what it’s like to fall in love, like you don’t have room for yourself in your own feet.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“What can we do to help Grandpa?"
The dad's tears dry on the boy's sweatshirt.
"We can walk down the road with him. We can keep him company.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“Death is a slow drum. It counts every beat. We can't haggle with it for more time.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“It's a big universe to be angry at but a long life to have company in.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“I know that the way home is getting longer and longer every morning. But I loved you because your brain, your world, was always bigger than everyone else’s. There’s still a lot of it left.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“What do I say to Noah? How do I explain that I’m going to be leaving him even before I die?”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“...this would be my greatest fear: imagination giving up before the body does. I guess I'm not alone in this. Humans are a strange breed in the way our fear of getting old seems to be even greater than our fear of dying.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“Do you remember when he was little and asked you why people went into space?”
“Yes. I told him it was because people are born adventurers, we have to explore and discover, it's out nature.”
“But you could see that he was scared, so you also said: 'Ted, we're not going into space because we're afraid of aliens. We're going into space because we're scared we're alone. It's an awfully big universe to be alone in.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“I get old when you leave me. Every wrinkle on my face is a good-bye from you”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“Why are you holding my hand so tight, Grandpa?” the boy whispers
again.
“Because all of this is disappearing, Noahnoah. And I want to keep hold
of you longest of all.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“Are we here to learn how to say good-bye,”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

“They were sixteen and even the snow was happy that morning, falling soap-bubble light and landing on cold cheeks as though the flakes were gently trying to wake someone they loved. She stood in front of him with January in her hair, and he was lost.”
― Fredrik Backman, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer