LIFE OF PI QUOTES Survival, The Will to Survive, Overcoming Fear “It is the irony of this story that the one who scared me witless to start with was the very same who brought me peace, purpose, I dare say even wholeness.” (p.57) “If your fear becomes a wordless darkness that you avoid, perhaps even manage to forget, you open yourself to further attacks of fear because you never truly fought the opponent who defeated you.” (p.56) “I must say a word about fear. It is life’s only true opponent. Only fear can defeat life.” (p.56) “I would like to say it formally: Richard Parker, thank you. Thank you for saving my life. And now go where you must.” (p.94) “A part of me did not want Richard Parker to die at all, because if he died I would be left alone with despair, a foe even more formidable than a tiger.” (p.57) “...It was not a question of him or me, but of him and me. We were, literally and figuratively, in the same boat.” (p.57) Religion and Rational Thinking, Religion and Science “All sentient life is sacred. I never forget to include this fish in my prayers.” (p.61) “Love is hard to believe, ask any lover. Life is hard to believe, ask any scientist. God is hard to believe, ask any believer. What is your problem with hard to believe?” (p.99) “If you stumble at mere believability, what are you living for? Isn’t love hard to believe?” (p.99) “It was my first clue that atheists are my brothers and sisters of a different faith, and every word they speak, speaks of faith. Like me, they go as far as the legs of reason will carry them – and then they leap.” (p. 28) “Nothing beats reason for keeping tigers away.” (p. 298) “I applied my reason at every moment. Reason is excellent for getting food, clothing and shelter. Reason is the very best tool kit. Nothing beats reason for keeping tigers away. But be excessively reasonable and you risk throwing out the universe with the bathwater.” (p.99) “In that case, what is the purpose of reason, Richard Parker? Is it no more than to shine at practicalities-the getting of food, clothing and shelter? Why can’t reason give greater answers? Why can we throw a question further than we can pull in an answer? Why such a vast net if there’s so little fish to catch?” (p.37) Animals and Humans, Nature and Society, Zoology and Religion “We commonly say in the trade that the most dangerous animal in a zoo is Man.” (p.8) “This one’s a Grant’s zebra,” I said. Mr. Kumar said, “Equus burchelli boehmi .” Mr. Kumar said, “Allahu akbar .” I said, “It’s very pretty.” (p.31) “Life will defend itself no matter how small it is. Every animal is ferocious and dangerous.” (p.8) “Instinct, it’s called instinct. Still, answer the question, any regrets now?” “I don’t think about it.” “The very definition of an animal. That’s all you are.” “And what are you?” “A human being, I’ll have you know.” (p.90) “Much hostile and aggressive behaviour among animals is the expression of social insecurity. The animal in front of you must know where it stands, whether above you or below you.” (p.13) “Tigers, indeed all animals, do not favour violence as a means of settling scores. When animals fight, it is with the intent to kill and with the understanding that they may be killed. A clash is costly. And so animals have a full system of cautionary signals designed to avoid a showdown, and they are quick to back down when they feel they can.” (p.72) “All living things contain a measure of madness that moves them in strange, sometimes inexplicable ways. This madness can be saving; it is part and parcel of the ability to adapt. Without it, no species would survive.” (p.10) Stories, Storytellers and Storytelling “I am a person who believes in form, in the harmony of order. Where we can, we must give things a meaningful shape.” (p.94) “Doesn’t the telling of something always become a story?” (p.99) “Isn’t telling about something–using words, English or Japanese–already something of an invention? Isn’t just looking upon this world already something of an invention?” (p.99) Other “These biscuits were amazingly good. They were savoury and delicate to the palate, neither too sweet nor too salty. They broke up under the teeth with a delightful crunching sound. Mixed with saliva, they made a granular paste that was enchantment to the tongue and mouth. And when I swallowed, my stomach had only one thing to say: Hallelujah!” (p.51)
Survival, The Will to Survive, Overcoming Fear
“It is the irony of this story that the one who scared me witless to start with was the very same who brought me peace, purpose, I dare say even wholeness.” (p.57)
“If your fear becomes a wordless darkness that you avoid, perhaps even manage to forget, you open yourself to further attacks of fear because you never truly fought the opponent who defeated you.” (p.56)
“I must say a word about fear. It is life’s only true opponent. Only fear can defeat life.” (p.56)
“I would like to say it formally: Richard Parker, thank you. Thank you for saving my life. And now go where you must.” (p.94)
“A part of me did not want Richard Parker to die at all, because if he died I would be left alone with despair, a foe even more formidable than a tiger.” (p.57)
“...It was not a question of him or me, but of him and me. We were, literally and figuratively, in the same boat.” (p.57)
Religion and Rational Thinking, Religion and Science
“All sentient life is sacred. I never forget to include this fish in my prayers.” (p.61)
“Love is hard to believe, ask any lover. Life is hard to believe, ask any scientist. God is hard to believe, ask any believer. What is your problem with hard to believe?” (p.99)
“If you stumble at mere believability, what are you living for? Isn’t love hard to believe?” (p.99)
“It was my first clue that atheists are my brothers and sisters of a different faith, and every word they speak, speaks of faith. Like me, they go as far as the legs of reason will carry them – and then they leap.” (p. 28)
“Nothing beats reason for keeping tigers away.” (p. 298)
“I applied my reason at every moment. Reason is excellent for getting food, clothing
and shelter. Reason is the very best tool kit. Nothing beats reason for keeping tigers away. But be excessively reasonable and you risk throwing out the universe with the bathwater.” (p.99)
“In that case, what is the purpose of reason, Richard Parker? Is it no more than to shine at practicalities-the getting of food, clothing and shelter? Why can’t reason give greater answers? Why can we throw a question further than we can pull in an answer? Why such a vast net if there’s so little fish to catch?” (p.37)
Animals and Humans, Nature and Society, Zoology and Religion
“We commonly say in the trade that the most dangerous animal in a zoo is Man.” (p.8)
“This one’s a Grant’s zebra,” I said.
Mr. Kumar said, “Equus burchelli boehmi .”
Mr. Kumar said, “Allahu akbar .”
I said, “It’s very pretty.” (p.31)
“Life will defend itself no matter how small it is. Every animal is ferocious and dangerous.” (p.8)
“Instinct, it’s called instinct. Still, answer the question, any regrets now?”
“I don’t think about it.”
“The very definition of an animal. That’s all you are.”
“And what are you?”
“A human being, I’ll have you know.” (p.90)
“Much hostile and aggressive behaviour among animals is the expression of
social insecurity. The animal in front of you must know where it stands, whether above you or below you.” (p.13)
“Tigers, indeed all animals, do not favour violence as a means of settling scores. When animals fight, it is with the intent to kill and with the understanding that they may be killed. A clash is costly. And so animals have a full system of cautionary signals designed to avoid a showdown, and they are quick to back down when they feel they can.” (p.72)
“All living things contain a measure of madness that moves them in strange, sometimes inexplicable ways. This madness can be saving; it is part and parcel of the ability to adapt. Without it, no species would survive.” (p.10)
Stories, Storytellers and Storytelling
“I am a person who believes in form, in the harmony of order. Where we can, we must
give things a meaningful shape.” (p.94)
“Doesn’t the telling of something always become a story?” (p.99)
“Isn’t telling about something–using words, English or Japanese–already something of an invention? Isn’t just looking upon this world already something of an invention?” (p.99)
Other
“These biscuits were amazingly good. They were savoury and delicate to the palate, neither too sweet nor too salty. They broke up under the teeth with a delightful crunching sound. Mixed with saliva, they made a granular paste that was enchantment to the tongue and mouth. And when I swallowed, my stomach had only one thing to say: Hallelujah!” (p.51)