Imagine a world without shadows. You cannot touch a shadow, but a world without them is a hard world, and flat.

The boy shall have a proper beating,' said Cecil. 'But I beat him already,' I said, 'and don't tell me I didn't do it properly. I'm touchy about these things.

It's strange how a person can have a distinct distaste for herself, but still she clutches on to life.

Meaning. If you're going to die, you want to find meaning in life. You want to connect the dots.

Despite her cough, Rose was in unusually good spirits. That was irritating. If I’m to trade my life for Rose’s, I’d appreciate her exhibiting a touch of melancholy. Also acceptable would be despair.

It's one thing to keep secrets. It's quite another to lie.

If you say a word, it leaps out and becomes the truth. I love you. I believe it. I believe I am loveable. How can something as fragile as a word build a whole world?