How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
People can love their lies, tell their lies, believe their own lies until hell pays a visit. (1.74)
This is a pretty intense way of looking at people, but is it true? Maybe. So what makes people stop all the lying? Torey thinks it happens when they go through something terrible, but Renee goes through her dad's affair and him leaving the house and she still lies like a champ, so what gives?
Quote #2
[…] the Church is always saying you shouldn't lie and here was one. […] he said to me, "Torey, it's not a lie, it's a cover-up." (2.9)
Is there a difference between lying and covering up the truth? As far as Torey's concerned, nope. He feels terrible when he doesn't say anything about making the call and Bo gets pinned for it, and even calls it the biggest lie he's told yet.
Quote #3
[…] What are you thinking about, O abnormal one? After a minute, I decided on Band. Who's coming over to strum' 'n drum? (2.15-16)
In order to cover up his big secret, the thing that makes him feel weird (which, for the record, is just thinking about stuff), Torey lies about what he's thinking about. Is it okay to lie if it is done in the name of self-protection? Torey doesn't think his friends will accept him for who he is in all his quirky glory.
Quote #4
Alex grabbed my arm, like this was totally important in comparison to him lying in my face. (7.25)
Friends who lie to their best friend aren't worth much, and the definition of a friend should probably includes something about the person being honest with you. It seems like the popular crowd is only interested in appearances, though.
Quote #5
I had just done some sort of serious crime. […] And here I was, the type who could never even lie without looking guilty as hell. (9.74)
What do you make of Torey's lie that he tells to get Mrs. Creed to leave the house? Is it okay to lie toward realizing a greater good, which in this case is figuring out what's happened to Chris?
Quote #6
Yeah, I guessed Bo was an ace liar. (11.75)
We will totally admit that we are exclusively stoked that Bo is such a good liar since it's what gets Chris's diary into Torey's and Ali's hands (instead of Mrs. Creed's grimy paws).
Quote #7
"This is like some stage show, Ali. I'm lying my ass off every time I turn around. […] It's like being an actor only you never get offstage. It's complicated." (13.40)
Torey can't stand the feeling of lying and it wears him out, which helps us like him even though he's being dishonest. Like, at least it doesn't come easily to him (ahem, Renee…).
Quote #8
[…] I realized it was me, choking on hypocrites and selfish people and lies. (21.7)
The thing about lies and deception, is that they're unsustainable at a point. When Torey sees the ghost in the graveyard, he begins to collapse from the pressure of it all.
Quote #9
[…] I could understand someone wanting to take his own life. […] If people became convinced that lies were true. […] It's dangerous because they can tell the lie with so much belief that it sounds like the truth, and they can make other people believe it. (21.14)
Lies and rumors are BFFs, Shmoopers, and the nastier the words circulating about someone, the harder it becomes to be that person. In other words, please play nicely.
Quote #10
I've stayed awake wondering what people think when they spit out some enormous lie […] do they just grab onto it like one of those folding chairs that floated off the Titanic? Is it a choice or a panic reaction to deep-brain freeze? (23.36)
Think back to some moments when you've lied. Have you ever told a whopper? What inspired you in that moment? Or, if you haven't, what's stopped you from doing so?