You were afraid of shooting people?" "No," I say. "I was afraid of my considerable capacity to kill." How many young men fear that there is a monster inside of them?

My father says that those who want power and get it live in terror of losing it. That's why we have to give power to those who do not want it.

Nothing else is all right.” His whisper tickles my cheek. “But we are.

I could never hurt him enough to make his betrayal stop hurting. And it hurts, in every part of my body.

Maybe forgiveness is just the continual pushing aside of bitter memories, until time dulls the hurt and anger, and the wrong is forgotten.

Valuing knowledge above all else results in a lust for power, and that leads men into dark and empty places.

That's why you like me!' I exclaim. 'Because you're not nice either! It makes so much more sense now.' 'Come on,' he says. 'We're going to see Johanna.' 'I like you, too.' 'That's encouraging,' he replies flatly. 'Come on. Oh for God's sake. I'll just carry you.