Our Favourite The Road Quotes

If you're someone who appreciates raw, unflinching portrayals of human survival and resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity, you might find Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" to be a haunting and unforgettable read. Let's explore some of the haunting quotes from this harrowing tale of a father and son's journey through a post-apocalyptic world.

"The Road" is a stark and powerful novel written by Cormac McCarthy and first published in 2006. It stands as a chilling depiction of a world ravaged by an unspecified catastrophe, where survival is a daily struggle and hope is a fragile, flickering flame in the darkness.

"You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget." – The Man

This quote encapsulates the struggle of the protagonists to cope with the harsh realities of their world. "The Road" is a profound exploration of survival, love, and the enduring spirit of humanity in a post-apocalyptic landscape.

"The world was gray and growing grayer all the time." – Narrator

This line paints the bleak, desolate setting of the novel, emphasizing the constant challenge faced by the father and his son as they navigate through a dying world.

"Keep a little fire burning; however small, however hidden." – The Man

The man's advice to his son is a metaphor for hope and the human drive to keep going even when circumstances seem most dire. This novel deeply explores the themes of perseverance and the meaning of life in the face of overwhelming darkness.

"We're the good guys, right? Yes. And we're carrying the fire. And we're carrying the fire. Yes." – The Boy and The Man

This repeated dialogue between the boy and his father symbolizes their moral compass, clinging to the idea of "the fire" as a beacon of goodness and humanity.

"You have to carry the fire." "I don't know how to." "Yes, you do." "Is the fire real? The fire?" "Yes it is." "Where is it? I don't know where it is." "Yes you do. It's inside you. It was always there. I can see it." – The Boy and The Man

This exchange is central to the novel's theme of carrying on and the responsibility of the boy to continue human values, showing how crucial it is for them to maintain their humanity amidst the desolation.

"What's the bravest thing you ever did? He spat in the road a bloody phlegm. Getting up this morning, he said." – The Man

This grim humor underlines the daily reality of survival in the novel's world, where every day requires immense courage from its characters.

"If he is not the word of God, God never spoke." – The Man

The man’s reflection on his son illustrates the deep bond between them and the father’s belief in the boy as a symbol of hope and purity in a corrupt world.

"Every day is a lie. But you are dying. That is not a lie." – The Man

This harsh truth spoken by the man reveals his worldview and the existential stakes that underpin their journey. McCarthy’s stark prose invites readers to confront the inevitability of death and the lies we tell ourselves to live.

"There is no God and we are his prophets." – The Man

This paradoxical statement reflects the bleakness of their reality and the absence of divine intervention, challenging them to create meaning in an indifferent universe.

"He knew only that his child was his warrant. He said: If he is not the word of God God never spoke." – The Man

Reiterating the sacredness of the boy to his father, this quote deepens the novel’s exploration of faith, love, and the divine in human relationships.

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If you liked this collection of quotes, you will also like our list of classic romance novels, available to read about, download and to import to PDF Reader Pro, right here on our blog.