--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The tears grappled with her face. Rudy…" description: "\"“The tears grappled with her face. Rudy, please, wake up, Goddamn it, wale up, I love you. Come on, Rudy, come on, Jesse Owens, don't you know I love y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d0/markus-zusak-165_best-friend_the-tears-grappled-with-her-face-rudy-pl_1691269.jpg" --- # The tears grappled with her face. Rudy, please, wake up… ![“The tears grappled with her face. Rudy, please, wake up, Goddamn it, wale up, I love you. Come on, Rudy, come on, Jesse Owens, don't you know I love you, wake up, wake up, wake up.." But nothing cared... She leaned down and looked at his lifeless face and Liesel kissed her best friend, Rudy…” quote by Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d0/markus-zusak-165_best-friend_the-tears-grappled-with-her-face-rudy-pl_1691269.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d0/markus-zusak-165_best-friend_the-tears-grappled-with-her-face-rudy-pl_1691269.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d0/markus-zusak-165_best-friend_the-tears-grappled-with-her-face-rudy-pl_1691269.jpg) > ““The tears grappled with her face. Rudy, please, wake up, Goddamn it, wale up, I love you. Come on, Rudy, come on, Jesse Owens, don't you know I love you, wake up, wake up, wake up.." But nothing cared... She leaned down and looked at his lifeless face and Liesel kissed her best friend, Rudy Steiner, soft and true on his lips. He tasted dusty and sweet. He tasted like regret in the shadows of trees and in the glow of the anarchist's suit collection. She kissed him long and soft, and when she pulled hersel away, she touched his mouth with her fingers. Her hands were tremblin, her lips were fleshy, and she leaned in once more, this time losing control and misjudging it. Their teeth collided on the demolised world of Himmel Street.”” [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In the midst of tragedy, love and grief intertwine, showing humanity’s fragile hope amid destruction. **In simple terms:** Love persists even in devastation. Key Takeaway Hold onto love despite loss. Themes grief love war humanity Mood somber poignant Type literary emotional When to use this quote - war zones - personal loss - friendship - healing Key Concepts trauma memory resilience Questions to Reflect On - What does love mean when everything else crumbles? - How can we honor the dead without being consumed by sorrow? A Different Perspective Romanticized grief may overlook the harsh reality of suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-friend/) [Face Liesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-liesel-1057466/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesse-owens/) [Kissed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kissed/) [Kissed Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kissed-long-409901/) [Liesel Kissed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liesel-kissed-1057465/) [Lips Tasted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lips-tasted-945836/) [Losing control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing-control/) ## Related quotes > [“She leaned down and looked at his lifeless face and Liesel kissed her best friend, Rudy Steiner, soft and true on his lips. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/she-leaned-down-and-looked-at-his-lifeless-face-and-liesel-kissed-her/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [She leaned down and looked at his lifeless face and Leisel kissed her best friend, Rudy Steiner, soft and true on his lips. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/she-leaned-down-and-looked-at-his-lifeless-face-and-leisel-kissed-her/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“Jesse Owens?” Mr. Steiner was the type of man who was very wooden. His voice was angular and true. His body was tall and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/jesse-owens-mr-steiner-was-the-type-of-man-who-was-very-wooden-his/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“Rudy, please, wake up. God damn it, wake up, I love you. Come on, Rudy, come on, Jesse Owens, don't you know I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/rudy-please-wake-up-god-damn-it-wake-up-i-love-you-come-on-rudy-come/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“He lay with yellow hair and closed eyes, and the book thief ran toward him and fell down. She dropped the black book. "Rudy,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/he-lay-with-yellow-hair-and-closed-eyes-and-the-book-thief-ran-toward/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“And I'm not too great at that sort of comforting thing, especially when my hands are cold and the bed is warm. I carried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/and-i-m-not-too-great-at-that-sort-of-comforting-thing-especially/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [ I carried \[Rudy\] softly through the broken street...with him I tried a little harder \[at comforting\]. I watched the contents of his soul for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-carried-rudy-softly-through-the-broken-street-with-him-i-tried-a/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I met Jesse Owens once. He was a remarkable individual, and I have tremendous respect for what he did in the Olympics under the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-trevino/i-met-jesse-owens-once-he-was-a-remarkable-individual-and-i-have/) [Lee Trevino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-trevino/) > [I wouldn't have raced a horse. But you'll then throw back at me that Jesse Owens raced against a horse, and he's one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-coe/i-wouldn-t-have-raced-a-horse-but-you-ll-then-throw-back-at-me-that/) [Sebastian Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-coe/) > [“BLACK WINGS At the same Olympics, staged by Hitler to consecrate the superiority of his race, the star that shone brightest was black, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/black-wings-at-the-same-olympics-staged-by-hitler-to-consecrate-the/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [ I knew \[Jesse Owens'\] name, but I really didn't remember what it is he had done, so I felt like I had to get… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-knew-jesse-owens-name-but-i-really-didn-t-remember-what-it-is-he/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [Sacrifice. I'd never been in a position where I was number one on the call sheet, and everything was in my lap. I worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/sacrifice-i-d-never-been-in-a-position-where-i-was-number-one-on-the/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [As a kid growing up in Latrobe, PA, I could dream about being an Olympian like Jesse Owens or Johnny Weissmuller. I could also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/as-a-kid-growing-up-in-latrobe-pa-i-could-dream-about-being-an/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [Jesse Owens had to be a very strong person. There were a lot of protests, but I think that he knew, despite the pressure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/jesse-owens-had-to-be-a-very-strong-person-there-were-a-lot-of/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [He was highly annoyed by the series of triumphs by the marvelous colored American runner, Jesse Owens. People whose antecedents came from the jungle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-speer/he-was-highly-annoyed-by-the-series-of-triumphs-by-the-marvelous/) [Albert Speer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-speer/) ## More by Markus Zusak > [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I think that as a writer your responsibility is to search for and stir up the things that are in this world. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-think-that-as-a-writer-your-responsibility-is-to-search-for-and/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“For two days I went about my business. I travelled the globe as always, handing souls to the conveyor belt of eternity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/for-two-days-i-went-about-my-business-i-travelled-the-globe-as-always/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [It is early, early morning. It's that time when it's still dark but you know the day is coming. Blue is bleeding through black.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/it-is-early-early-morning-it-s-that-time-when-it-s-still-dark-but-you/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“I'm twenty years old and look at me-- there isn't a thing I want to do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-m-twenty-years-old-and-look-at-me-there-isn-t-a-thing-i-want-to-do/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [You should give it to Max, Liesel. See if you can leave it on the bedside table, like all the other things." Liesel watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/you-should-give-it-to-max-liesel-see-if-you-can-leave-it-on-the/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“When a woman with an iron fist tells you to get out there and clean spit off the door, you do it. Especially when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/when-a-woman-with-an-iron-fist-tells-you-to-get-out-there-and-clean/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Is there cowardice with the acknowledgement of fear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/is-there-cowardice-with-the-acknowledgement-of-fear/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [In years to come, he would be a giver of bread, not a stealer - proof again of the contradictory human being. So much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/in-years-to-come-he-would-be-a-giver-of-bread-not-a-stealer-proof/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“«¿Por qué no puede oírlo el resto del mundo? —me pregunto. En pocos segundos me lo pregunto muchas veces—. Porque no le importa —me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/por-qu-no-puede-o-rlo-el-resto-del-mundo-me-pregunto-en-pocos/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Could she smell my breath? Could she hear my cursed circular heart beat revolving like the crime it is in my deathly chest?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/could-she-smell-my-breath-could-she-hear-my-cursed-circular-heart/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I see how complicated it is to make a film and how many people are involved and I love the fact that I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-see-how-complicated-it-is-to-make-a-film-and-how-many-people-are/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [One wild card was yet to be played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/one-wild-card-was-yet-to-be-played/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“Može li netko ukrasti sreću? Ili je i to još jedan unutarnji, paklenski ljudski trik?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/mo-e-li-netko-ukrasti-sre-u-ili-je-i-to-jo-jedan-unutarnji-paklenski/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I look at my first books and am glad they weren't published… You start writing by imitating your heroes, then you keep the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-look-at-my-first-books-and-am-glad-they-weren-t-published-you-start/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) [Explore all 953 Markus Zusak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) ## More Best friend quotes > [“But my best friend from college was silent for a long time. She, of all of my friends, had seen the parade of sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/but-my-best-friend-from-college-was-silent-for-a-long-time-she-of-all/) [Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [I fell in love with my best friend, but I know that if it doesn't last, it will never be the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-yang/i-fell-in-love-with-my-best-friend-but-i-know-that-if-it-doesn-t-last/) [Shelly Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-yang/) > [A best friend isn't someone who's just always there for you.Its someone who understands you a bit more than you understand yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/a-best-friend-isn-t-someone-who-s-just-always-there-for-you-its/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Back home I get to see my old friends!(: But they don't understand the change in me and I can't explain it to them...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/back-home-i-get-to-see-my-old-friends-but-they-don-t-understand-the/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) > [This goes out to someone that was Once the most important person in my life I didn't realize it at the time I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aviation/this-goes-out-to-someone-that-was-once-the-most-important-person-in/) [Aviation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aviation/) > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [Sometimes the right people can make your day. They're called best friends :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/sometimes-the-right-people-can-make-your-day-they-re-called-best/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Here is your third gift from Me once again..I had a fourth gift it was about me making a video telling you how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilbear/here-is-your-third-gift-from-me-once-again-i-had-a-fourth-gift-it-was/) [LilBear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilbear/) > [Our friendship is like a cup of tea¦a special blend of you and me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orebela-gbenga/our-friendship-is-like-a-cup-of-tea-a-special-blend-of-you-and-me/) [Orebela Gbenga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orebela-gbenga/) > [When you have the most beautiful best friend in the world what more could I ask for I love you Tay :) you mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick/when-you-have-the-most-beautiful-best-friend-in-the-world-what-more/) [Nick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick/) > [I believe in God, because he is the only thing that kept me going. He's my best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-hahn/i-believe-in-god-because-he-is-the-only-thing-that-kept-me-going-he-s/) [Jessica Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-hahn/) > [ONE stone enough to break a glass,,, ONE sentence is enough to break a heart,,, FIRST sight is enough to fall in love,,, ONE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-stone-enough-to-break-a-glass-one-sentence-is-enough-to-break-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A Real Man will help build his woman's self esteem not break it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-s-voice/a-real-man-will-help-build-his-woman-s-self-esteem-not-break-it/) [Lisa's Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-s-voice/) [Browse all 6,524 Best friend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-friend/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The tears grappled with her face. Rudy, please, wake up, Goddamn it, wale up, I love you. Come on, Rudy, come on, Jesse Owens, don't you know I love you, wake up, wake up, wake up..\" But nothing cared... She leaned down and looked at his lifeless face and Liesel kissed her best friend, Rudy Steiner, soft and true on his lips. He tasted dusty and sweet. He tasted like regret in the shadows of trees and in the glow of the anarchist's suit collection. She kissed him long and soft, and when she pulled hersel away, she touched his mouth with her fingers. Her hands were tremblin, her lips were fleshy, and she leaned in once more, this time losing control and misjudging it. 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