“Envy is ashamed of itself. If it weren’t hanging back, it would go all the way to emulation and love.”

“It was only recently that Isabelle had realized other girls weren’t just for envying, avoiding, or disliking.”

“I wasn’t going anywhere and neither was the rest of the world. We were all just hanging around waiting to die and meanwhile doing little things to fill the space. Some of use weren’t even doing little things. We were vegetables.”

“Go all the way with it. Do not back off. For once, go all the goddamn way with what matters.”

“As for the system of the Commune, which makes it impossible for a man to rise or fall, it is merely the old caste system revived; if it could be put into force, all industry would be disheartened, emulation would cease, and mankind would go to sleep.”

“Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip.”

“I love for the sake of what I have loved, and what I have loved I would not go back to loving.”

“Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know “why” I look this way. I’ve traveled a long way and some of the roads weren’t paved.”

“Love is the way back into Eden. It is the way back to life.”

“Never be ashamed of your love," he said gently. "The only thing to be ashamed of is denying your love. That is what makes the shadow grow within your heart; that is the darkening of the Light. And we all have many loves.”