Why do they blame me for all their little failings? They use my name as if I spent my entire days sitting on their shoulders, forcing them to commits acts they would otherwise find repulsive. 'The devil made me do it.' I have never made one of them do anything. Never. They live their own tiny lives. I do not live their lives for them.

Because if you don't stand up for the stuff you don't like, when they come for the stuff you do like, you've already lost.

The Lord of Dreams learns that one must change or die, and makes his decision

You know I love you,' said the other mother flatly. 'You have a very funny way of showing it,' said Coraline.

Rules and responsibilities: these are the ties that bind us. We do what we do, because of who we are. If we did otherwise, we would not be ourselves. I will do what I have to do. And I will do what I must.

You've a good heart. Sometimes that's enough to see you safe wherever you go. But mostly, it's not.

Stories are made up by people who make them up. If they work, they get retold. There's the magic of it.