Keep anyone with whom you can read in silence.

The worst surroundings in the world can be tolerated if the people in them are interesting and kind.

The burning of a book is a sad, sad sight, for even though a book is nothing but ink and paper, it feels as if the ideas contained in the book are disappearing as the pages turn to ashes and the cover and binding--which is the term for the stitching and glue that holds the pages together--blacken and curl as the flames do their wicked work. When someone is burning a book, they are showing utter contempt for all of the thinking that produced its ideas, all of the labor that went into its words and sentences, and all of the trouble that befell the author . . .

If only Uncle Monty knew what we know," Violet said, "and Stephano knew that he knew what we know. But Uncle Monty doesn't know what we know, and Stephano knows that he doesn't know what we know." "I know," Klause said. "I know you know," Violet said

I know what is going on," said Sir. "I am the Boss! Of course I know!

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

Bad circumstances have a way of ruining things that would otherwise be pleasant.