How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"That's the thing about pain," Augustus said, and then glanced back at me. "It demands to be felt." (4.110)
Just because you're brave, doesn't mean you can't feel trophy-smashing rage and pain.
Quote #2
"I'm a grenade," I said again. "I just want to stay away from people and read books and think" (6.72)
Hazel's all about not hurting other people—even when it hurts here. She wants to be as passive as possible in order to not be responsible for any pain. Is this courageous? Or just silly?
Quote #3
People talk about the courage of cancer patients, and I do not deny that courage. I have been poked and stabbed and poisoned for years, and still I trod on. (7.4)
Hazel recognizes how tough it is to be a cancer kid. And that means she also knows how courageous she's been.
Quote #4
I did not ask what constituted a long time. I'd made that mistake before. (8.12)
Hazel manages to be brave even when doctors are openly talking in front of her about how little time she has left on this earth. That's brutal.
Quote #5
The way Hazel sees it, dying makes you less afraid of other things, because hey, what do you have to lose?
The way Hazel sees it, dying makes you less afraid of other things, because hey, what do you have to lose?
Quote #6
We walked in silence, Augustus a half step in front of me. I was too scared to ask if I had reason to be scared. (13.20)
Just because she's used to the whole cancer drill doesn't mean that Hazel doesn't have moments of weakness. We're pretty sure she knows what's coming in this scene.
Quote #7
Much of my life had been devoted to trying not to cry in front of the people who loved me, so I knew what Augustus was doing. You clench your teeth. You look up. You tell yourself that if they see you cry, it will hurt them (13.29)
Is this courage? Why do we always try to protect the people we love when we'd never want them to hold it in for our sake?
Quote #8
"I'll fight it. I'll fight it for you. Don't you worry about me, Hazel Grace. I'm okay. I'll find a way to hang around and annoy you for a long time." (13.36)
Even in the darkest moments, Augustus has that fiery desire to carry on and take life for all it's worth.
Quote #9
According to the conventions of the genre, Augustus Waters kept his sense of humor til the end, did not for a moment waver in his courage, and his spirit soared like an indomitable eagle until the world itself could not contain his joyous soul. (18.27)
If this were a made-for-TV family drama, maybe Augustus would never feel pain or depression or hopelessness in the face of cancer. But he does. And that doesn't make him any less of a fighter.