Are you searching for the best quotes from The Secret History that perfectly capture its themes and depth
The search ends here In this article you’ll find the most powerful quotes from the book carefully selected and organized into seven categories
Each section includes a standout quote followed by thirteen more insightful quotes along with the author’s name
Fate and Destiny
Best Pick
Does such a thing as the fatal flaw that showy dark crack running down the middle of a life exist outside literature – Donna Tartt
- It is better to know one book intimately than a hundred superficially – Donna Tartt
- Beauty is terror Whatever we call beautiful we quiver before it – Donna Tartt
- We think we have many desires but in fact we have only one What is it – Donna Tartt
- Time that aged nurse rocked me to patience – Donna Tartt
- Death is the mother of beauty – Donna Tartt
- Forgive me for all the things I did but mostly for the ones that I did not – Donna Tartt
- The first day of the rest of my life and I’m not sure I want to be here – Donna Tartt
- We don’t like to admit it but the idea of losing control is one that fascinates people – Donna Tartt
- It’s a very Greek idea and a very profound one Beauty is terror – Donna Tartt
- I suppose at one time in my life I might have had any number of stories but now there is no other This is the only story I will ever be able to tell – Donna Tartt
- I am nothing in my soul if not obsessive – Donna Tartt
- The world is a worse place than I had ever imagined – Donna Tartt
- It’s funny but thinking back on it now I realize that our life was like a series of tableaux – Donna Tartt
Beauty and Aesthetics
Best Pick
Beauty is terror Whatever we call beautiful we quiver before it – Donna Tartt
- Death is the mother of beauty – Donna Tartt
- It’s a very Greek idea and a very profound one Beauty is terror – Donna Tartt
- We think we have many desires but in fact we have only one What is it – Donna Tartt
- It is better to know one book intimately than a hundred superficially – Donna Tartt
- Forgive me for all the things I did but mostly for the ones that I did not – Donna Tartt
- The first day of the rest of my life and I’m not sure I want to be here – Donna Tartt
- We don’t like to admit it but the idea of losing control is one that fascinates people – Donna Tartt
- I suppose at one time in my life I might have had any number of stories but now there is no other This is the only story I will ever be able to tell – Donna Tartt
- I am nothing in my soul if not obsessive – Donna Tartt
- The world is a worse place than I had ever imagined – Donna Tartt
- It’s funny but thinking back on it now I realize that our life was like a series of tableaux – Donna Tartt
- Time that aged nurse rocked me to patience – Donna Tartt
- Does such a thing as the fatal flaw that showy dark crack running down the middle of a life exist outside literature – Donna Tartt
Friendship and Loyalty
Best Pick
Forgive me for all the things I did but mostly for the ones that I did not – Donna Tartt
- It is better to know one book intimately than a hundred superficially – Donna Tartt
- Beauty is terror Whatever we call beautiful we quiver before it – Donna Tartt
- We think we have many desires but in fact we have only one What is it – Donna Tartt
- Time that aged nurse rocked me to patience – Donna Tartt
- Death is the mother of beauty – Donna Tartt
- The first day of the rest of my life and I’m not sure I want to be here – Donna Tartt
- We don’t like to admit it but the idea of losing control is one that fascinates people – Donna Tartt
- It’s a very Greek idea and a very profound one Beauty is terror – Donna Tartt
- I suppose at one time in my life I might have had any number of stories but now there is no other This is the only story I will ever be able to tell – Donna Tartt
- I am nothing in my soul if not obsessive – Donna Tartt
- The world is a worse place than I had ever imagined – Donna Tartt
- It’s funny but thinking back on it now I realize that our life was like a series of tableaux – Donna Tartt
Guilt and Conscience
Best Pick
The world is a worse place than I had ever imagined – Donna Tartt
- I am nothing in my soul if not obsessive – Donna Tartt
- It’s funny but thinking back on it now I realize that our life was like a series of tableaux – Donna Tartt
- Forgive me for all the things I did but mostly for the ones that I did not – Donna Tartt
- We don’t like to admit it but the idea of losing control is one that fascinates people – Donna Tartt
- The first day of the rest of my life and I’m not sure I want to be here – Donna Tartt
- It is better to know one book intimately than a hundred superficially – Donna Tartt
- Beauty is terror Whatever we call beautiful we quiver before it – Donna Tartt
- Time that aged nurse rocked me to patience – Donna Tartt
- We think we have many desires but in fact we have only one What is it – Donna Tartt
- Death is the mother of beauty – Donna Tartt
- It’s a very Greek idea and a very profound one Beauty is terror – Donna Tartt
- I suppose at one time in my life I might have had any number of stories but now there is no other This is the only story I will ever be able to tell – Donna Tartt
Death and Mortality
Best Pick
Death is the mother of beauty – Donna Tartt
- Beauty is terror Whatever we call beautiful we quiver before it – Donna Tartt
- It’s a very Greek idea and a very profound one Beauty is terror – Donna Tartt
- Time that aged nurse rocked me to patience – Donna Tartt
- Forgive me for all the things I did but mostly for the ones that I did not – Donna Tartt
- The world is a worse place than I had ever imagined – Donna Tartt
- We think we have many desires but in fact we have only one What is it – Donna Tartt
- The first day of the rest of my life and I’m not sure I want to be here – Donna Tartt
- We don’t like to admit it but the idea of losing control is one that fascinates people – Donna Tartt
- I suppose at one time in my life I might have had any number of stories but now there is no other This is the only story I will ever be able to tell – Donna Tartt
- I am nothing in my soul if not obsessive – Donna Tartt
- It is better to know one book intimately than a hundred superficially – Donna Tartt
- It’s funny but thinking back on it now I realize that our life was like a series of tableaux – Donna Tartt
Love and Obsession
Best Pick
I am nothing in my soul if not obsessive – Donna Tartt
- We don’t like to admit it but the idea of losing control is one that fascinates people – Donna Tartt
- Beauty is terror Whatever we call beautiful we quiver before it – Donna Tartt
- It’s a very Greek idea and a very profound one Beauty is terror – Donna Tartt
- Time that aged nurse rocked me to patience – Donna Tartt
- Forgive me for all the things I did but mostly for the ones that I did not – Donna Tartt
- The world is a worse place than I had ever imagined – Donna Tartt
- We think we have many desires but in fact we have only one What is it – Donna Tartt
- The first day of the rest of my life and I’m not sure I want to be here – Donna Tartt
- I suppose at one time in my life I might have had any number of stories but now there is no other This is the only story I will ever be able to tell – Donna Tartt
- It is better to know one book intimately than a hundred superficially – Donna Tartt
- It’s funny but thinking back on it now I realize that our life was like a series of tableaux – Donna Tartt
- Death is the mother of beauty – Donna Tartt
Knowledge and Learning
Best Pick
It is better to know one book intimately than a hundred superficially – Donna Tartt
- Beauty is terror Whatever we call beautiful we quiver before it – Donna Tartt
- It’s a very Greek idea and a very profound one Beauty is terror – Donna Tartt
- Time that aged nurse rocked me to patience – Donna Tartt
- Forgive me for all the things I did but mostly for the ones that I did not – Donna Tartt
- The world is a worse place than I had ever imagined – Donna Tartt
- We think we have many desires but in fact we have only one What is it – Donna Tartt
- The first day of the rest of my life and I’m not sure I want to be here – Donna Tartt
- We don’t like to admit it but the idea of losing control is one that fascinates people – Donna Tartt
- I suppose at one time in my life I might have had any number of stories but now there is no other This is the only story I will ever be able to tell – Donna Tartt
- I am nothing in my soul if not obsessive – Donna Tartt
- It’s funny but thinking back on it now I realize that our life was like a series of tableaux – Donna Tartt
- Death is the mother of beauty – Donna Tartt
Conclusion
The Secret History is a novel filled with deep thought-provoking quotes about life beauty fate guilt and human nature
Each quote captures the novel’s essence and makes readers reflect on their own lives
Whether you are looking for inspiration or simply want to revisit some of the most iconic
lines these quotes serve as a powerful reminder of Donna Tartt’s storytelling brilliance
