“Scar tissue has no character. It's not like skin. It doesn't show age or illness or pallor or tan. IT has no… — Susanna Kaysen Scar Copy Share Image
Our hospital was famous and housed many great poets and singers. Did the hospital specialize in poets and singers or was it… — Susanna Kaysen Great poet Copy Share Image
Actually, it was only part of myself I wanted to kill: the part that wanted to kill herself, that dragged me into… — Susanna Kaysen Debate Copy Share Image
I noticed that some of my deadness was being replaced by an intense feeling about the Greek stories and the Bible stories.… — Susanna Kaysen Bible Copy Share Image
In a strange way we were free. We'd reached the end of the line. We had nothing more to lose. Our privacy,… — Susanna Kaysen Copy Share Image
“What does the sign say?” “ ‘If you lived here, you’d be home now.’ ” She clenched her hands with excitement. “See, every day… — Susanna Kaysen Copy Share Image
We say that Columbus discovered America and Newton discovered gravity, as though America and gravity weren't there until Columbus and Newton got… — Susanna Kaysen America Copy Share Image
Scar tissue has no character. It's not like skin. It doesn't show age or illness or pallor or tan. It has no… — Susanna Kaysen Age Copy Share Image
Lunatics are similar to designated hitters. Often an entire family is crazy, but since an entire family can't go into the hospital,… — Susanna Kaysen Copy Share Image
Are you crazy? It's a common phrase, I know. But it means something particular to me: the tunnels, the security screens, the… — Susanna Kaysen Copy Share Image
“But the fact that I couldn't hold my job was worrisome. I was probably crazy. I'd been skirting the idea of craziness… — Susanna Kaysen Craziness Copy Share Image
It's important to cultivate detachment. One way to do this is to practice imagining yourself dead, or in the process of dying.… — Susanna Kaysen Copy Share Image
The floor of ice cream parlor bothered me. It was black-and-white checkboard tile, bigger than supermarket checkboard. If I looked only at… — Susanna Kaysen Copy Share Image
Don’t ask me those questions! Don’t ask me what life means or how we know reality or why we have to suffer… — Susanna Kaysen Angel Copy Share Image
“Back then I didn't know that I -- or anyone-- could make a life out of boyfriends and literature. As far as… — Susanna Kaysen Anger Copy Share Image
“I was trying to explain my situation to myself. My situation was that I was in pain and nobody knew it; even… — Susanna Kaysen Pain Copy Share Image
“a tidal wave of blackness broke over her head. The entire world was obliterated–for a few minutes. She knew she had gone… — Susanna Kaysen Darkness Copy Share Image
