It was never what I wanted to buy that held my heart's hope. It was what I wanted to be.

Some people grow into their dreams, instead of out of them.

It's an ancient and honorable term for the final step in any engineering project. Turn it on, see if it smokes.

Adulthood isn't an award they'll give you for being a good child. You can waste years, trying to get someone to give that respect to you, as though it were a sort of promotion or raise in pay. If only you do enough, if only you are good enough. No. You have to just take it. Give it to yourself, I suppose. Say, I'm sorry you feel like that and walk away. But that's hard

Honesty is the only way with anyone, when you'll be so close as to be living inside each other's skins.

Growing up, I have discovered over time, is rather like housework: never finished.

Your father calls you to his court. You need not pack. You go garbed in glorious raiment. He waits eagerly by his palace doors to welcome you, and has prepared a place at the high table, by his side, in the company of the great-souled, honored, and best-beloved.