Sherman Alexie Pain Quotations

There are all kinds of addicts, I guess. We all have pain. And we all look for ways to make the pain go away. (107)

Pain is never added to pain. It multiplies.

She was in pain and I loved her, sort of loved her, I guess, so I kind of had to love her pain, too.

What's the difference between bulimics and anorexics?" I ask. "Anorexics are anorexics all the time," she says, "I'm only bulimic when I'm throwing up." Wow. She sounds just like my dad! "I'm only an alcoholic when I get drunk." There are all kinds of addicts, I guess. We all have pain. And we all look for ways to make the pain go away. Penelope gorges on her pain and then throws it up and flushes it away. My dad drinks his pain away. (107)

If you care about something enough, it’s going to make you cry. But you have to use it. Use your tears. Use your pain. Use your fear. Get mad. Arnold, get mad.