Change the world Quote by Neal Shusterman
““When I touched that boy, I felt something. Something awful. Something I can’t describe.” “We all felt it,” Nick said. “You may have felt it, but I caused it.” Then both his eyes seemed to go far away. “Something changed out there. I don’t know what it was, but something in the world changed because that kid didn’t deserve what I did to him—and the powers that be know that I did it.” Nick watched as a tear fell from his Everlost eye and disappeared through the living world table. “What if,” said Nick, not even sure what he was going to say yet, “what if you were that kid and you were told you could change the world, but you would have to sacrifice yourself to do it?” Clarence chuckled at the thought. “I believe that question was already asked a long time ago, and that creepy kid did not look anything like Jesus to me.” “But you do think that something changed. . . .” “I don’t know whether it’s good or bad.” “What if it’s neither?” suggested Nick. “What if we get to make it one or the other?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Everlost, 2009
A character reflects on a tragic event that altered reality, questioning sacrifice and moral ambiguity.
In simple terms: He ponders a painful act that changed the world and its moral implications.
Consider the consequences of actions and the complexity of good vs. evil.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- reading groups
- ethical debates
- creative writing workshops
- psychological analysis
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities do we have after causing harm?
- Can sacrifice ever be justified?
The narrative may romanticize trauma without offering solutions.