44 Best The Hate U Give Quotes With Page Numbers

What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?

Angie Thomas’s groundbreaking novel, The Hate U Give, offers an unflinching look at race, justice, and identity through the eyes of Starr Carter, a teenager navigating two starkly different worlds after witnessing police brutality.

This collection gathers 44 powerful quotes from the novel, organized by key parts of Starr’s journey, capturing her voice, Khalil’s memory, and the systemic issues explored.

Use these quotes with page numbers for study, reflection, or to find the exact words that capture the novel’s enduring impact.

*Heads up! Check the note at the end about the specific edition used and why page numbers might vary.*

Part 1: When It Happens – Seeds of Change

The story ignites as Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her friend Khalil, forcing her to confront the harsh realities of her world and the dangerous implications of speaking out.

“You need Saturday to recover and Sunday to repent.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 1, Page 4, Theme: Lifestyle, Contrast, Routine)

“It’s dope to be black until it’s hard to be black.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 1, Page 11, Theme: Identity, Race, Difficulty, Duality)

“Pac said Thug Life stood for ‘The Hate U Give Little Infants F*** Everybody’.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter quoting Khalil quoting Tupac, Chapter 1, Page 17, Theme: Systemic Racism, THUG LIFE Acronym, Cycle of Hate)

“When I was twelve, my parents had two talks with me. One was the usual birds and bees… The other talk was about what to do if a cop stopped me… “Starr-Starr, you do whatever they tell you to do,” he said… I hope somebody had the talk with Khalil.” *(Excerpt)*

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 2, Pages 20-21, Theme: Parenting, Race, Police Brutality Prep, Fear)

“I’ve seen it happen over and over again: a black person gets killed just for being black… Now I am that person, and I’m too afraid to speak.” *(Excerpt)*

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 3, Page 34, Theme: Witnessing Trauma, Fear, Voice, Silence)

“Something to live for, something to die for.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 4, Page 37, Theme: Purpose, Black Panthers, Conviction)

“Don’t let them put words in your mouth. God gave you a brain. You don’t need theirs.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Maverick “Big Mav” Carter, Chapter 5, Page 58, Theme: Independence, Thinking for Oneself, Empowerment)

“The truth casts a shadow over the kitchen—people like us in situations like this become hashtags, but they rarely get justice. I think we all wait for that one time though, that one time when it ends right.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 5, Page 59, Theme: Injustice, Hope, Hashtag Activism, Reality)

“Good-byes hurt the most when the other person’s already gone.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 5, Page 66, Theme: Grief, Loss, Finality)

“I hope none of them ask about my spring break. They went to Taipei, the Bahamas, Harry Potter World. I stayed in the hood and saw a cop kill my friend.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 5, Page 77, Theme: Code-Switching, Trauma, Two Worlds, Inequality)

“He got a tan over break. I used to tell him he was so pale he looked like a marshmallow… I told him that’s what he got for calling me caramel…” *(Excerpt)*

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give,( Speaker: Starr Carter about Chris, Chapter 5, Page 79, Theme: Relationships, Humor, Race, Banter)

“Once you’ve seen how broken someone is it’s like seeing them naked—you can’t look at them the same anymore.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 5, Page 83, Theme: Vulnerability, Perception, Empathy)

“Funerals aren’t for dead people. They’re for the living.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 8, Page 122, Theme: Grief, Funerals, Purpose)

“Sometimes you can do everything right and things will still go wrong. The key is to never stop doing right.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Lisa Carter to Starr, Chapter 9, Page 154, Theme: Perseverance, Morality, Justice, Resilience)

“Right. Lack of opportunities,” Daddy says… “Drugs come from somewhere, and they’re destroying our community… That’s the hate they’re giving us, baby, a system designed against us. That’s Thug Life.” *(Excerpt)*

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Maverick “Big Mav” Carter, Chapter 10, Pages 169-170, Theme: Systemic Racism, THUG LIFE, Inequality, Drugs)

“Daddy once told me there’s a rage passed down to every black man from his ancestors… there’s nothing more dangerous than when that rage is activated.” *(Excerpt)*

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 11, Page 196, Theme: Generational Trauma, Rage, Race, History)

“Don’t fall for that trap… don’t let it be because you’re scared of them. Who do I tell you that you have to fear?” “Nobody but God.” *(Dialogue)*

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Maverick Carter & Starr, Chapter 11, Page 200, Theme: Fear, Courage, Faith, Empowerment)

“My son loved working in the neighborhood,” One-Fifteen’s father claims… Funny. Slave masters thought they were making a difference in black people’s lives too… I wish people like them would stop thinking that people like me need saving.” *(Excerpt)*

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: One-Fifteen’s father & Starr Carter, Chapter 14, Page 245, Theme: White Savior Complex, Misunderstanding, Racism, Perspective)

“Are you serious right now?” Hailey asks. “What’s wrong with saying his life matters too?” “His life always matters more!” My voice is gruff… “That’s the problem!” *(Dialogue Excerpt)*

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Hailey Grant & Starr Carter, Chapter 14, Page 248, Theme: All Lives Matter vs Black Lives Matter, Conflict, Invalidation)

“What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 14, Page 252, Theme: Voice, Silence, Activism, Responsibility)

“And at the end of the day, you don’t kill someone for opening a car door. If you do, you shouldn’t be a cop.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Uncle Carlos, Chapter 14, Page 256, Theme: Police Brutality, Accountability, Justice)

“He was more than any bad decision he made.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Uncle Carlos about Khalil, Chapter 14, Page 256, Theme: Humanity, Judgment, Redemption, Complexity)

“What is Tumblr anyway? Is it like Facebook?” … “No parents allowed. You guys already took over Facebook.” *(Dialogue)*

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Lisa Carter & Starr Carter, Chapter 15, Page 263, Theme: Generational Differences, Social Media, Humor)

“At an early age I learned that people make mistakes, and you have to decide if their mistakes are bigger than your love for them.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Lisa Carter, Chapter 15, Page 264, Theme: Forgiveness, Love, Relationships, Maturity)

As weeks pass, the weight of her secret and the escalating tensions take a toll, pushing Starr toward finding her voice.

Part 2 & 3: Finding Voice Amidst Fear (Weeks 5-8)

Starr grapples with fear, the duality of her identity (“Williamson Starr” vs. “Garden Heights Starr”), and the courage required to speak truth to power as the investigation into Khalil’s death proceeds.

“If bravery is a medical condition, everybody’s misdiagnosed me.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 16, Page 284, Theme: Bravery, Fear, Self-Perception, Imposter Syndrome)

“When you fight, you put yourself out there, not caring who you hurt or if you’ll get hurt.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 16, Page 290, Theme: Conflict, Consequences, Vulnerability)

“I’ve taught myself to speak with two different voices and only say certain things around certain people. I’ve mastered it.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 17, Page 301, Theme: Code-Switching, Identity, Survival Tactic)

“But I realize that being real ain’t got anything to do with where you live.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Maverick Carter, Chapter 18, Page 308, Theme: Authenticity, Identity, Class)

“Intentions always look better on paper than in reality.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 17, Page 321, Theme: Reality vs Expectation, Idealism)

“Brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared. It means you go on even though you’re scared.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Lisa Carter, Chapter 19, Page 331, Theme: Bravery Definition, Courage, Fear Management)

“This is exactly what They expect you to do,” Momma says. They with a capital T. There’s Them and then there’s Us…” *(Excerpt)*

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Lisa Carter, Chapter 20, Page 343, Theme: Us vs Them Mentality, Systemic Issues, Expectations)

Starr’s two worlds collide, forcing confrontations and surprising moments of connection.

Part 4 & 5: Worlds Collide – The Decision and Aftermath

As the grand jury decision approaches, tensions reach a peak. Starr fully embraces her voice, leading to confrontation, community action, and ultimately, a commitment to continued activism.

“Besties before testes.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Maya Yang, Chapter 21, Page 357, Theme: Friendship, Loyalty (Female), Humor)

“My two worlds just collided. Surprisingly, everything’s all right.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 21, Page 359, Theme: Identity Integration, Resolution, Connection)

“People say misery loves company, but I think it’s like that with anger too.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 23, Page 393, Theme: Anger, Shared Emotion, Community)

“DeVante’s got a point. What makes his name or our names any less normal than yours? Who or what defines ‘normal’ to you?…” *(Excerpt)*

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Seven Carter, Chapter 23, Page 401, Theme: Normalcy, White Standard, Identity, Perspective)

“A hairbrush is not a gun.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Protest Chant, Chapter 24, Page 407, Theme: Protest Slogan, Police Brutality, Injustice)

“You can destroy wood and brick, but you can’t destroy a movement.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Ms. Ofrah, Chapter 25, Page 409, Theme: Activism, Resilience, Hope, Social Change)

“I can’t change where I come from or what I’ve been through, so why should I be ashamed of what makes me, me?”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 26, Page 441, Theme: Self-Acceptance, Identity Pride, Empowerment)

“Once upon a time there was a hazel-eyed boy with dimples. I called him Khalil. The world called him a thug.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 26, Page 443, Theme: Humanization, Perception vs Reality, Labeling, Storytelling)

“It’s also about Oscar. Aiyana. Trayvon. Rekia. Michael. Eric. Tamir. John. Ezell. Sandra. Freddie. Alton. Philando. It’s even about… Emmett.” *(List)*

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 26, Page 443, Theme: Historical Context, Real Victims, BLM, Legacy)

“Once upon a time there was a hazel-eyed boy… He lived, but not nearly long enough… Fairy tale? No. But I’m not giving up on a better ending.” *(Excerpt)*

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 26, Page 443, Theme: Memory, Loss, Hope, Activism, Narrative)

“People are realizing and shouting and marching and demanding. They’re not forgetting. I think that’s the most important part.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 26, Page 444, Theme: Activism, Social Change, Awareness, Collective Action)

“Khalil, I’ll never forget. I’ll never give up. I’ll never be quiet. I promise.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Speaker: Starr Carter, Chapter 26, Page 444, Theme: Promise, Commitment, Activism, Memory)

“Your voices matter, your dreams matter, your lives matter. Be roses that grow in the concrete.”

~ Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give, (Context: Dedication/Acknowledgments – often attributed to Lisa/Starr, Theme: Empowerment, Hope, Resilience, Page Acknowledgments)

The Power of Finding Your Voice

These 39 quotes from Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give illuminate Starr Carter’s transformation from a frightened witness to a powerful advocate for justice. They capture the raw pain of loss, the complexities of identity, the insidious nature of systemic racism, and ultimately, the crucial importance of speaking truth, even when it’s hard.

Starr’s journey, reflected in these words, is a vital reminder that individual voices, when raised together, can challenge injustice and fight for a better ending, like roses growing through concrete.

A Note on Page Numbers & Edition:

We carefully sourced these quotes from the **Clarion Books Hardcover edition (Feb 28, 2017), ISBN-13: 978-0062498533**. Remember, like Starr finding her voice, page numbers can sometimes shift unexpectedly between different book printings! Always double-check against your own copy for essays or citations – ensure your references are concrete.

Cite This Page (MLA):

Mortis, Jeremy.”44 The Hate U Give Quotes With Page Numbers.\” Ageless Investing, 13, Apr. 2025, agelessinvesting.com/the-hate-u-give-quotes-with-page-numbers/. Accessed [Date You Accessed].

Cite This Page (APA):

Mortis, J. (2025, April 13). *44 The Hate U Give quotes with page numbers*. Ageless Investing. Retrieved [Date You Accessed], from https://agelessinvesting.com/the-hate-u-give-quotes-with-page-numbers/

Jeremy Mortis

Jeremy Mortis, founder of Ageless Investing, applies a rigorous analytical approach (the AAM framework) to distill timeless wisdom and contextualized quotes from classic literature, saving you time while deepening understanding. Learn more about Jeremy’s unique background and methodology on his author bio page.