Dreams Quote by Khaled Hosseini
““... I have dreams of you too, Mariam jo. I miss you. I miss the sound of your voice, your laughter. I miss reading to you, and all those times we fished together. Do you remember all those times we fished together? You were a good daughter, Mariam jo, and I cannot ever think of you without feeling shame and regret. Regret… When it comes to you, Mariam jo, I have oceans of it. I regret that I did not see you the day you came to Herat. I regret that I did not open the door and take you in. I regret that I did not make you a daughter to me, that I let you live in that place for all those years. And for what? Fear of losing face? Of staining my so-called good name? How little those things matter to me now after all the loss, all the terrible things I have seen in this cursed war. But now, of course, it is too late. Perhaps that is just punishment for those who have been heartless, to understand only when nothing can be undone. Now all I can do is say that you were a good daughter, Mariam jo, and that I never deserved you. Now all I can do is ask for your forgiveness. So forgive me, Mariam jo. Forgive me, forgive me. Forgive me...””
About This Quote
Source Novel: A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini, 2007
A lament of missed chances and deep remorse for not protecting a vulnerable child, highlighting the weight of guilt and the yearning for forgiveness.
In simple terms: Regret over not helping a child; seeks forgiveness.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge past failures, seek redemption.
Themes
guilt
forgiveness
war
family
Mood
sorrowful
reflective
Type
narrative
emotional
When to use this quote
- conflict zones
- family trauma
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
moral responsibility
humanity
Questions to Reflect On
- Can guilt be transformed into positive action?
- How to reconcile past in with present?
A Different Perspective
Forgiveness may not erase harm; guilt can dominate.
