So Far from the Bamboo Grove

“When you have hope, you have everything. And you must not lose hope. It is the most important thing.”

— Yoko's mother often reminds her and Ko of the importance of hope during their arduous journey.

“We must always be kind to others, even if they are not kind to us. That is the way of a good person.”

— Yoko's mother teaches her children about the importance of kindness amidst hardship and prejudice.

“Just remember, the sun always rises. No matter how dark the night, morning always comes.”

— A comforting phrase from their mother, intended to give Yoko and Ko strength during their darkest times.

“My mother always told me, 'Yoko, you must always be strong. You must never give up.'”

— Yoko reflects on her mother's persistent encouragement to remain strong despite the overwhelming challenges.

“We were not just running from the war; we were running for our lives, for our future.”

— Yoko describes the desperate nature of their escape from Nanam and the constant threat they faced.

“A good education is the most important thing you can have. No one can ever take that away from you.”

— Their mother emphasizes the lasting value of education, even when they have lost everything else.

“Even when you are afraid, you must try to be brave. It is not about not being afraid, but about acting despite it.”

— Their mother's lesson to Yoko and Ko on true bravery in the face of fear.

“The memory of food was sometimes more painful than the hunger itself.”

— Yoko describes the intense suffering caused by starvation and the cruel irony of remembering past meals.

“We were Japanese, and they were Koreans, but we were all human beings, suffering the same way.”

— Yoko observes the shared humanity and suffering among different groups during the war.

“My mother's strength was not in her muscles, but in her spirit.”

— Yoko reflects on her mother's incredible mental and emotional fortitude throughout their journey.

“Sometimes, the smallest kindness can make the biggest difference.”

— Yoko and Ko experience moments where small acts of generosity from strangers provide crucial help.

“I learned that tears are not a sign of weakness, but a way to let out the pain.”

— Yoko's personal realization about the emotional release and validity of crying.

“Home was not a place anymore, but a feeling, a memory.”

— Yoko contemplates the loss of her physical home and how the concept of 'home' transformed for her.

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”

— While not directly stated in the book by a character, the sentiment of overcoming bitterness and finding peace through letting go of past grievances is a core theme in Yoko's eventual journey.