Somewhere in that database my name sat in its own little niche, the name of a reject, undisciplined and worthless. Just the way I liked it.

True strength isn’t in killing—or ignoring—your opponent, it’s in having the will to shield those who need your protection.

Humans tend to segregate the world: enemies on one side, friends on the other. Friends are the people we know. Enemies are the Other. You can do just about anything to the Other. It doesn't matter if this Other is actually guilty of any crimes, because it is a matter of emotion, not logic. You see angry people aren't interested in justice, they just want an excuse to vent their rage.

Are you implying that our relationship is like a Spanish soap opera?” “I’m not implying. I’m saying it.

Your date appears to be hysterical," Rene told me. "You think I should slap some man into him?

Now was not a good time, but we didn't often get to chose the time to repay our debts.

A girl half my age swept by and slammed two giant tankard filled with beer on the table. Ragnvald held his up. I smashed my tankard against his. Beer splashed. We raised the tankard and pretended to take much bigger gulps than we did.