Student Question

What are some impactful quotes from The Road suitable for an essay?

Quick answer:

Impactful quotes from The Road suitable for an essay include "Nothing bad is going to happen to us...because we're carrying the fire" and "We're the good guys...and we're carrying the fire," symbolizing hope and survival. Paradoxical quotes such as "You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget" and "There is no God and we are his prophets" highlight the duality of human nature and faith.

Expert Answers

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There's good "fire" quotes, a symbol of hope, survival, and (ironically) the destruction that caused this post-apocalyptic world:

Pg. 83: "Nothing bad is going to happen to us...because we're carrying the fire."

Pg. 129: "We're the good guys...and we're carrying the fire."

Pg. 172: "I havent seen a fire in a long time, thats all.  I live like an animal."

Pg. 186: "Nowhere to build a fire.  Nowhere safe."

Pg. 216: "Are they carrying the fire too?  They could be yes.  But we dont know.  So we have to be vigilant."

There are several paradoxical quotes that show the duality of man, time, and memory:
"You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget." "Nobody wants to be here and nobody wants to leave."
"People were always getting ready for tomorrow. 
I didnt believe in that. 
Tomorrow wasnt getting ready for them. 
It didnt even know they were there." "Just remember that the things you put into your head are there forever, he said. You might want to think about that. 
You forget some things, dont you? 
Yes. You forget what you want to remember and you remember what you want to forget."
My all-time favorite is also paradoxical and shows faith in a world of faithlessness:
"There is no God and we are his prophets."

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