Gaze Quote by Holly Black
““Feels almost like real agent work, doesn’t it?” Barron says as we walk down the street, heads bowed against the wind. “You know, if we caught your girlfriend committing a crime, I bet Yulikova would give us a bonus or something for being prize pupils.” “Except that we’re not going to do that,” I say. “I thought you wanted us to be good guys.” He grins a too-wide grin. He’s enjoying needling me, and my reacting only makes it worse, but I can’t stop. “Not if it means hurting her,” I say, my voice as deadly as I can make it. “Never her.” “Got it. Hurting, bad. But how do you excuse stalking her and her friends, little brother?” “I’m not excusing it,” I say. “I’m just doing it.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: The Darkest Part of the Forest, Holly Black, 2015
The speaker resists harming a loved one despite being pressured to commit wrongdoing, highlighting moral conflict.
In simple terms: He refuses to hurt her despite pressure.
Key Takeaway
Stand firm on moral principles.
Themes
ethics
friendship
conflict
loyalty
Mood
tense
conflicted
Type
narrative
dialogue
When to use this quote
- crime investigation
- friendship betrayal
- personal integrity
Key Concepts
moral dilemmas
peer pressure
protective instincts
Questions to Reflect On
- What lines will you never cross?
- How do you handle conflicting loyalties?
A Different Perspective
Moral choices can be emotionally taxing.
