Every year the hunters shot cows and horses and family pets and each other. And unbelievably, they sometimes shot themselves, perhaps in a psychotic episode where they mistook themselves for dinner

It is very, very dangerous to come between a person and their beliefs.

What people mistook for safety was in fact captivity.

Foolish people are never harmless. Stupidity accounts for as many crimes as anger and greed.

But you want murderous feelings? Hang around librarians," confided Gamache. "All that silence. Gives them ideas.

Don't mistake dramatics for a conscience.

The women in the room chatted about love, about childhood, about losing parents, about Mr. Spock, about good books they'd read. They mothered each other.