O my son Absalom,' Bean said softly, knowing for the first time the kind of anguish that could tear such words from a man’s mouth. 'my son, my son Absalom. Would God I could die for thee, O Absalom, my son. My sons!

A duel is just two murders who agree to take turns trying to kill each other.

Before we are citizens, we are children, and it is as children that we come to understand freedom and authority, liberty and duty.

The difference between science fiction and fantasy … is simply this: science fiction has rivets and fantasy has trees.

We spend our lives guessing at what's going on inside everybody else, and when we happen to get lucky and guess right, we think we 'understand.' Such nonsense. Even a monkey at a computer will type a word now and then.

Darkness bound them closer than light.

I will remember this, thought Ender, when I am defeated. To keep dignity, and give honor where it's due, so that defeat is not disgrace. And I hope I don't have to do it often.