Children make prayers so thoughtlessly, building them up like sand castles—and they are always surprised when suddenly the castle becomes real, and the iron gate grinds shut.

The future is a messy, motley business, little girl.

Men die. It's practically what they're for.

You're not in love if you keep your own heart bricked up behind your bones. You're only playing.

Woman! Come out! I have—" She looked down at the bloodless grass, embarrassed. "I have come to rescue you," she finally said, as if admitting that she were covered in boils.

You only had to choose which me to talk to, for, you know, we all change our manners, depending on who has come to chat. One doesn’t behave at all the same way to a grandfather as to a bosom friend, to a professor as to a curious niece.

Why should he be spared?' 'Someone ought to be.' And it will not be me. I have survived, but I have not been spared.