It is an important distinction to note that she looked not only as if she had taken good care of herself, but that she had good reason to have done so. (...) She looked to be in such total possession of her life that only the most confident men could continue to look at her if she looked back at them. Even in bus stations, she was a woman who was stared at only until she looked back.

It's not right to hurt or deceive someone who's already been hurt and deceived.

There's no reason you should write any novel quickly.

There's no reason you shouldn't, as a writer, not be aware of the necessity to revise yourself constantly.

Among adults – and among orphans – Wilbur Larch noted that delirious happiness was rare.

It is amazing to me, now, how such wild imaginings and philosophies - inspired by a night charged with frights and calamities - made such perfectly good sense to Owen Meany and me, but good friends are nothing to each other if they are not supportive.

Sell my old clothes - I'm off to heaven