If you wish to avoid an unpleasant story you had best put this book down

A long time ago, there was no such thing as school, and children spent their days learning a trade, a phrase which here means "standing around doing tedious tasks under the instruction of a bossy adult." In time, however, people realized that the children could be allowed to sit, and the first school was invented.

Is it useful to feel fear, because it prepares you for nasty events, or is it useless, because nasty events will occur whether you are frightened or not?

I've never had a musical career. So I think it's been unaffected. I play the accordion. In terms of thinking of it as a musical career, I think it's sort of like calling yourself an astronaut because you have a shiny suit.

Everyone tells you it's all right to cry, but not enough people say it's all right if you don't want people to know.

Miracles can happen, even to those who are small, flammable, and dressed all in black.

Don’t repeat yourself. It’s not only repetitive, it’s redundant, and people have heard it before.