The sweetest moments in life are those that transcend time and impose themselves on us, with all the life force in them. (p183) - Fadwa Tuqan

I sense the absurdity and aimlessness of life as I stand bewildered, lost and weak before the tide of overpowering death. (p176)

The man dominated family life, as in all homes of our society. The woman had to forget that the word 'no' existed in the language, except when she repeated, "There is no God but God', in her ablutions and prayers. 'Yes' was the parroted word instilled in her from infancy, to become embedded in her consciousness for the rest of her life.
The right to express her feelings or views was prohibited. Laughing and singing were also taboo and could be indulged in only secretly, after the men, the lords and masters, left for work. Personal independence was a concept foreign to a woman all her life.

silence has its own aesthetic genius that bespeaks a thousand thoughts and emotions. (p181)