André Aciman, born on January 2, 1951, in Alexandria, Egypt, is a celebrated author, essayist, and professor known for his poignant explorations of memory, desire, and identity. His breakout novel, “Call Me By Your Name,” published in 2007, became a bestseller and was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film in 2017, earning acclaim for its sensitive portrayal of human emotions. Aciman’s career also includes memoirs like “Out of Egypt” and essays on literature and exile, establishing him as a profound voice in contemporary fiction. The quotes featured here are drawn exclusively from his novel “Call Me By Your Name,” offering deep insights into life’s complexities. This curated list presents 15 quotes about life, highlighting themes of love, loss, and self-discovery as depicted in the book.
15 cmbyn book quotes Quotes
1. “We rip out so much of ourselves to be cured of things faster that we go bankrupt by the age of thirty and have less to offer each time we start with someone new. But to feel nothing so as not to feel anything—what a waste!” (Book, “Call Me By Your Name,” 2007)
2. “Time makes us sentimental. Perhaps, in the end, it is because of time that we suffer.” (Book, “Call Me By Your Name,” 2007)
3. “If I could have him like this in my dreams every night of my life, I’d stake my entire life on dreams and be done with the rest.” (Book, “Call Me By Your Name,” 2007)
4. “People who read are hiders. They hide who they are.” (Book, “Call Me By Your Name,” 2007)
5. “Is it better to speak or die?” (Book, “Call Me By Your Name,” 2007)
6. “We had the stars, you and I. And this is given once only.” (Book, “Call Me By Your Name,” 2007)
7. “I suddenly realized that we were on borrowed time, that time is always borrowed, and that the lending agency exacts its premium precisely when we are least prepared to pay and need to borrow more.” (Book, “Call Me By Your Name,” 2007)
8. “Youth is the best time of your life. When else could it be?” (Book, “Call Me By Your Name,” 2007)
9. “The sense of having lost something hovered over me, as if I were a migrating bird that had forgotten to leave with its flock.” (Book, “Call Me By Your Name,” 2007)
10. “To trap one’s self-suffering is to risk being devoured from the inside.” (Book, “Call Me By Your Name,” 2007)
11. “I am the love that dare not speak its name.” (Book, “Call Me By Your Name,” 2007)
12. “What did I know of life, I who had lived so carefully?” (Book, “Call Me By Your Name,” 2007)
13. “Memory is a curse more than it is a blessing.” (Book, “Call Me By Your Name,” 2007)
14. “In your place, if there is pain, nurse it, and if there is a flame, don’t snuff it out.” (Book, “Call Me By Your Name,” 2007)
15. “Life is long, and we have time to learn and forget and learn again.” (Book, “Call Me By Your Name,” 2007)
These quotes from André Aciman’s “Call Me By Your Name” reveal his introspective view of life as a tapestry of fleeting joys, profound losses, and the human quest for connection. They underscore themes of vulnerability, the passage of time, and the richness of emotional experience, inviting readers to reflect on their own journeys. Aciman’s words remind us that life’s essence lies in embracing its messiness. What are your favorite quotes from the book, or how have they influenced your perspective? Share your thoughts in the comments below.