Baby sister Quote by Claudia Gray
““There's one way. Only one. Mine." Balthazar stepped closer, using every inch he had on Lucas, who was tall but not that tall. "Charity is a person. The same as you, the same as me." "You and me aren't the same." Balthazar cocked his head. "Then let's say the same as Bianca. Will that make you listen?" "Bianca's no killer! She didn't have a choice about what she is." "Guys, don't do this," I pleaded, but they paid no attention. "A choice? You think we all get a choice?" Although Balthazar spoke softly, there was a roughness to his voice I'd never heard before. It sent chills down my spine. "Try being hunted down in the night. Try running as far and as fast as you can and finding out their faster. Try coming to in a stable, with your parents' dead bodies on the ground in front of you, your hands roped above your head and a dozen hungry vampires arguing with each other about who gets you next. See how much choice you have then." Lucas just stared at him. Obviously he'd never imagined anything like that; neither had I. Even more quietly, Balthazar continued, "Try watching your baby sister die, and then tell me that you wouldn't spend the rest of eternity trying to make up for it. When you've done all that, Lucas, then you can talk to me about choices. Until that time, tell me what I need to know and then shut your mouth.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken, 2012
The speaker argues that true choice is an illusion when faced with extreme suffering and terror.
In simple terms: Extreme hardship makes choices meaningless.
Recognize the limits of free will under duress.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- war zones
- abuse
- survival scenarios
- ethical dilemmas
- family loss
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we define choice under extreme pressure?
- Can empathy survive when survival is at stake?
Even in dire circumstances, some agency may remain; the quote may overstate determinism.