Khaled Hosseini
Physician and author of the best selling novel, The Kite Runner.
Laila (at fourteen years): What would your mother say when she saw you smoke?
"Mariam is never very far, she is here, in these walls they've repainted, in the trees they've planted, in the blankets that keep the children warm, in these pillows and books and pencils. She is in the children's laughter. She is in the verses Aziza recites and in the prayers she mutters when she bows westward. But, mostly, Miriam is in Laila's own heart, where she shines with the bursting radiance of a thousand suns."
Mariam: No, it is fair. I killed our husband, Laila. I deprived your son of a father. Even if we escape, I...I won't be able to look at him without shame. No, it's my fault. Take care, Laila jo.
Hasina: That's because you have a beard, my dear.
Regret...when it comes to you, I have oceans of it. -Jalil's letter
Laila: A jeep? Maybe a jumbo jet?
Mariam: What do you think?
Tariq: Who's going to tell her? You?
Mariam: I can't beleive what you are now, if you were a Benz before.
Tariq (meeting Laila after ten years): It's good to see you, Laila.
Laila: Tell your secrets to the wind but don't blame it for telling the trees.
Jalil: try it on, Mariam jo.
And I wrote to you, Laila. Volumes. -Tariq
Like a compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman.-Nana
Giti: Nobody ever came for my hand.
Jailil: Ah yes. Of course. Well then, without further ado...
Nana (to Mariam): When I'm gone, you'll have nothing in this world. You are nothing!
Women have always had it hard in this country, Laila, but they're probably more free now,f under the communists, and have more rights than they've ever had before. -Babi
Nana (to Mariam) : A man's heart isn't like a woman's womb, Mariam! It won't bleed, it won't make room for you. A man's heart is a wretched, wretched thing. I'm all you have in this world, Mariam and when I'm gone, you'll have nothing. You are nothing!