There was a message written in pencil on the tiles by the roller towel. This was it: What is the purpose of life? Trout plundered his pockets for a pen or pencil. He had an answer to the question. But he had nothing to write with, not even a burnt match. So he left the question unanswered, but here is what he would have written, if he had found anything to write with: To be the eyes and ears and conscience of the Creator of the Universe, you fool.

If you can do no good, at least do no harm.

Anyone unable to understand how useful religion can be founded on lies will not understand this book either.

Sometimes I think it is a great mistake to have matter that can think and feel. It complains so.

She broke my heart. I didn't like that much. But that was the price. In this world, you get what you pay for.

Billy had a framed prayer on his office wall which expressed his method for keeping going, even though he was unenthusiastic about living. A lot of patients who saw the prayer on Billy’s wall told him that it helped them to keep going, too. It went like this: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom always to tell the difference.” Among the things Billy Pilgrim could not change were the past, the present, and the future.

In those days great teachers at Shortridge [High School] were celebrities. I would look up to them.