The Kite Runner quotes

View Quote Hassan: [Talking about a story Amir wrote] Why did he kill his wife?
Amir: Because he would cry and his tears would turn into pearls.
Hassan: But why didn't he smell an onion? (Long Pause) Amir: Would you eat dirt if I asked you to do that?
Hassan: If you would ask it I would. [pause]
But you would not ask that, would you?
Amir: Of course not. Hassan: I like Charles Bronson. Maybe someday we'll go to Iran.
Amir: Why?
Hassan: Maybe we'd see him somewhere. I could get his autograph.
Amir: Charles Bronson's not Iranian.
Hassan: He's not? So why does he speak Farsi with an Iranian accent? Amir: Baba, have you ever thought about getting new servants?
Baba: Why would I ever want to do that?
Amir: [already regretting it] I guess you wouldn't. It was just a question.
Baba: I grew up with Ali. My father took him in, he loved Ali like his own son. Forty years Ali's been with my family. Forty goddamn years. And you think I'm just going to throw him out? I've never laid a hand on you, Amir, but you ever say that again... You bring me shame. And Hassan... Hassan's not going anywhere. Do you understand? I SAID, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?! Baba: Are you ready for your birthday present?
Hassan: Is it a drawing book?
Baba: Better!
Hassan: A toy gun?
Baba: Better! Baba: Where are you from?
Dr. Starobin: I grew up in Michigan. Came out here for medical school. Once you get used to that California sunshine...
Baba: But your family?
Dr. Starobin: My family? We're originally from Russia. [Baba shoves him away, and is next seen with an Arabic doctor.] Baba: My son, the college graduate.
Amir: It's just community college.
Baba: It's college. And someday, Dr. Amir! [Amir is on the phone with Rahim Khan]
Rahim Khan: You should come home.
Amir: Home? I don't think now's such a good time.
Rahim Khan: It is a very bad time, but you should come. Soraya: What do you see?
Amir: The rest of my life. Assef: You want my advice? Run away. That's what you do best.
Amir: Not without Sohrab. Amir: Do you remember what these streets smelled like in the old days?
Farid: Kabob.
Amir: Lamb kabob.

View Quote Afghani people and Pakistani people, they are like brothers. Muslims have to help Muslims. Pakistan Taxi Driver

View Quote Afghanistan is the land of the Pashtuns. We're the real Afghans, not this flat-nosed Hazara. His people pollute our homeland. They dirty our blood. If idiots like you and your father hadn't taken these people in, we'd be rid of them. Assef, referring to Hassan and the Hazara people

View Quote All this talk of sinning is making me thirsty.

View Quote Children aren't coloring books. You don't get to fill them with your favorite colors. To Baba about Amir

View Quote For you, a thousand times over. To Amir, about running a kite. Later Amir says the same thing to Hassan's son Sohrab.

View Quote **** the Russia! His toast in an American bar

View Quote He hates me because I killed her. My mother. To Rahim Khan

View Quote I dream that my son will grow up to be a good person, a free person. I dream that someday you will return to revisit the land of our childhood. I dream that flowers will bloom in the streets again and kites will fly in the skies. Hassan in draft letter to Amir

View Quote I piss on the beards of those self-righteous monkeys. Regarding the mullahs, who teach that drinking alcohol is a sin

View Quote I see America has infused you with her optimism. But there is such a thing as God's will. To Amir

View Quote I wish Hassan had been with us today. That would make him happy.

View Quote Instead of being a doctor and saving lives, my son wants to make up stories.

View Quote It's a dangerous thing, being born. Dangerous for the mother, dangerous for the child. Your father would die for you. To Amir

View Quote The mullahs at school say drinking is a sin. They say drinkers will pay when the Reckoning comes. To Baba