It was a style not of perfection, but warmth. Even mistakes had a good feeling about them

I wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and brutality. But what could I tell her about those things that she didn't already know? I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race - that rarely do I ever simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant.

A REASSURING ANNOUNCEMENT Please, be calm, despite that previous threat. I am all bluster - I am not violent. I am not malicious. I am a result.

Imagine smiling after a slap in the face. Then think of doing it twenty-four hours a day.

Believe it or not--it takes a lot of love to hate you like this.

He killed himself for wanting to live.

Death waits for no man - and if he does, he doesn't usually wait for very long.