Jeannette Walls

“Things usually work out in the end. 'What if they don't?' 'That just means you haven't come to the end yet.'”

“One benefit of Summer was that each day we had more light to read by.”

“Sometimes you need a little crisis to get your adrenaline flowing and help you realize your potential.”

“You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love the person for that.”

“Life is a drama full of tragedy and comedy. You should learn to enjoy the comic episodes a little more.”

“I lived in a world that at any moment could erupt into fire. It was the sort of knowledge that kept you on your toes.”

“If you don't want to sink, you better figure out how to swim.”

“Years from now, when all the junk they got is broken and long forgotten, you'll still have your stars.”

“Mom always said people worried too much about their children. Suffering when you're young is good for you, she said. It immunized your body and your soul.”

“Nobody's perfect. We're all just one step up from the beasts and one step down from the angels.”

“It’s the Joshua tree’s struggle that gives it its beauty.”

“I wanted to let the world know that no one had a perfect life, that even the people who seemed to have it all had their secrets.”

“We were always doing the skedaddle.”

“What I loved most about calling myself a reporter was that it gave me an excuse to show up anyplace and ask questions.”

“You can't cling to the side your whole life.”