R. J. Palacio’s “Wonder” is filled with poignant quotes that capture the essence of the novel’s themes, including kindness, empathy, and the beauty of embracing differences. Here are a few notable quotes from the book:
Kindness
The predominant message in ‘Wonder’ is the importance of kindness in our social interactions. This is emphasized in the actions of the model students in the speech of several characters throughout the story.
“If every person in this room made it a rule that wherever you are, whenever you can, you will try to act a little kinder than is necessary – the world really would be a better place. And if you do this, if you act just a little kinder than is necessary, someone else, somewhere, someday, may recognize in you, in every single one of you, the face of God.”
Mr. Tushman; Section VIII
Principal Tushman makes this speech at the prom award ceremony, suggesting to the assembled students how great kindness makes life wonderful, beautiful, and liveable. In his conception of kindness, he equates the acts of kindness as a force that manifests Godliness in the world.
“It’s not enough to be friendly. You have to be a friend.”
Charlotte Cody; Appendix
This is Charlotte Cody’s submission for Mr. Browne’s precepts assignment. The quote emphasizes the difference between being polite and forming genuine, meaningful connections with others. Being “friendly” might involve superficial interactions, such as smiling or exchanging pleasantries, which don’t necessarily lead to a deeper relationship. In contrast, being “a friend” consists in taking the time to understand, support, and care for others more sincerely and committedly.
Jack, sometimes you don’t have to be mean to hurt someone.
Veronica to Jack; Part 4
In the story, Veronica says this to Jack when he is trying to understand why she is mad at him and Jamie, his brother. Jaime had pointed out Auggie’s deformity when they met in a park in a tactless manner. Jack mentions that Jaime didn’t intend to be mean, but his words still caused Auggie emotional pain. The quote emphasizes that hurting someone doesn’t always require malicious intent or overt meanness. Sometimes, thoughtless words or actions, even if not intended to harm, can still profoundly impact others. This is an important lesson for Jack, highlighting the need for empathy and awareness of how our words and actions affect those around us.
Isolation
August feels like he is the only one in his world. He wears a helmet and, after, grows out his hair so that bangs cover the sides of his face and hide the world away from him.
“It’s like people you see sometimes, and you can’t imagine what it would be like to be that person, whether it’s somebody in a wheelchair or somebody who can’t talk. Only, I know that I’m that person to other people, maybe to every single person in that whole auditorium. To me, though, I’m just me. An ordinary kid.”
Auggie; Part 8
August reflects on why he is getting a medal and what the medal means. He has always wished to be treated as any other normal person. Still, he feels trapped in his body and knows the isolation of being treated differently because he looks different, even though he is the same as everyone, with the exact needs and feelings. Here, he tries to reconcile receiving a medal for living just like everyone else, just being himself.
Making a Difference
The story of “Wonder“ emphasizes the value of anyone’s efforts to do good, no matter how small or seemingly powerless the person. Our actions, directly or indirectly, change the world through the ones we inspire.
“The best way to measure how much you’ve grown isn’t by inches or the number of laps you can now run around the track, or even your grade point average– though those things are important, to be sure. It’s what you’ve done with your time, how you’ve chosen to spend your days, and whom you’ve touched this year. That, to me, is the greatest measure of success.”
Principal Tushman; Part 8
This is part of Mr. Tushman’s speech at the graduation ceremony. Too often, we measure advancement in money, status, and other trappings of success and miss out on the essential things, which are acts of service to others and the activities we imbue with our energy for the love of it. These metrics of intelligence, attraction, or wealth don’t mean much, and they lose significance if they do not work to benefit human lives.
“no, no, it’s not all random, if it really was all random, the universe would abandon us completely. and the universe doesn’t. it takes care of its most fragile creations in ways we can’t see. like with parents who adore you blindly. and a big sister who feels guilty for being human over you. and a little gravelly-voiced kid whose friends have left him over you. and even a pink-haired girl who carries your picture in her wallet. maybe it is a lottery, but the universe makes it all even out in the end. the universe takes care of all its birds.”
Justin’s musings; Part 5
Justin is a little philosopher and shows what he is made of here. He makes a critical observation about Auggie. He suggests that Auggie’s life cannot be seen as an accident in a cold, unconcerned universe but that there is providence, care, and blessings even in his unfortunate condition. Of course, he is deformed, and it makes it hard to make friends, but then the friends and family he has more than make up for his loss. And that proves that Auggie matters and is essential in the grand scheme of life.
“I think there should be a rule that everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their lives.”
Auggie; Part 6
When August witnesses his sister Via receive a standing ovation after her performance in the school play, he realizes, at that moment, what it means to be valued, acknowledged, and appreciated. It is a gift of inestimable value for August, who was used to being avoided or discriminated against and wished that everyone would get the chance to experience that feeling.
“The things we do outlast our mortality. The things we do are like monuments that people build to honor heroes after they’ve died. They’re like the pyramids that the Egyptians built to honor the pharaohs. Only instead of being made of stone, they’re made out of the memories people have of you.”
August; Part 1
This is August’s interpretation of Mr. Browne’s October precept. Mr. Browne asked the class to write what they felt the inscription found on an Egyptian tombstone, “Your deeds are your monuments,” means. The quote emphasizes how we treat others, and our actions create a lasting impression, much like monuments or pyramids built to honor significant historical figures. However, instead of physical structures, our legacy is built through the memories and experiences we create for others.
Perceptions
People’s first reaction to August is shock and disgust, but after getting to know him, they find that he is a loveable character. In “Wonder,” looks can be deceiving, and the author prompts us to pay more attention to people beyond what they look like.
“Do people look the same when they go to heaven, mommy?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think so.”
“Then how do people recognize each other?”
“I don’t know, sweetie. They just feel it. You don’t need your eyes to love, right?”
Auggie and Mrs. Pullman; Part 6
This occurs after the Pullman family loses their pet dog and is in mourning. In a moment of existential musing, August asks his mother how people look in heaven. August is eternally sensitive about his looks, and his mother knows his concern. She replies to him cleverly and avoids answering directly. However, in her reply, a positive note is that true love does not rely on what the person loved looks like.
“I wish every day could be Halloween. We could all wear masks all the time. Then we could walk around and get to know each other before we got to see what we looked like under the masks.”
Auggie; Part I
August remarks Halloween, a day on which schoolchildren attend school wearing masks. August always feels comfortable under masks because masks make everyone equal, and no one gives him an extra glance based on his looks. This makes Halloween his favorite school day. He believes that people can open up to each other without fear of judgment and have the opportunity to be friends before superficial considerations like a person’s attractiveness are noticed.
“Courage. Kindness. Friendship. Character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness.”
Principal Tushman’s graduation speech; Part 8
This is part of Mr. Tushman’s long but quotable speech at the Beecher Prep graduation ceremony. He states that the Henry Beecher Award stands for these qualities that humanize us. In “Wonder,” acts of greatness are not grand gestures but individuals’ everyday choices to be brave, kind, and true to their principles. R. J. Palacio encourages readers to reflect on these qualities and consider how they shape their lives and the world. The quote serves as a call to embrace these virtues in one’s life.
“Now that I look back, I don’t know why I was so stressed about it all this time. Funny how sometimes you worry a lot about something and it turns out to be nothing.”
Auggie; Part 6
On this occasion, August receives hearing aids and worries about how his classmates will take his new look. He realizes his worry is unnecessary. In general, though, this reflects his feelings when he begins attending Beecher Prep. He is understandably anxious about being rejected and bullied and the challenges of fitting in with other kids. As the story progresses, Auggie is bullied and rejected but finds friendship, acceptance, and support from some of his classmates and teachers. By the end of the school year, Auggie realizes that many of his initial fears were unfounded or exaggerated in his mind. The quote reflects a common human experience: the tendency to build up worries about future events, only to find that the reality is often less daunting than anticipated.
“Don’t try too hard to be cool. It always shows, and that’s uncool.”Amos Conti’s Precept; Appendix
Amos Conti, August’s classmate, submits this quote when Mr. Browne asks his students to provide a personal precept as a class exercise. This statement suggests that authenticity is more important than trying to impress others by conforming to a particular image or behavior perceived as “cool.” When someone is overly focused on being cool, their actions may come across as forced or inauthentic, which can be perceived as unattractive or undesirable. Instead, the precept encourages individuals to be genuine and comfortable in their skin, as true confidence and authenticity are more appealing.
