~ "As I climb the large stones, I feel a pride swelling in me. It’s a great feeling to be going there again in victory after the uncertainty of my first visit." (177)

~ “Why me?” I ask God.

God says nothing.

I laugh and the stars watch.

It’s good to be alive." (165)

~ "I’d shot at the sun, but of course it was too far. At the time, I wondered vaguely where the bullet landed." (95)

~ "I tell him, “Well, do it then, because I’m not moving.” My shadow has covered him completely now, and he doesn’t move. Like I thought, he’s all talk. He pulls grass out of the ground and throws it to the road. He tears at it like it’s hair. His hands are ferocious." (170)

~ "I walk over and stand in front of him, and I have to tell you, a nervousness manages to sidle up next to me. The kid’s tough and won’t give me anything for free." (169

~ "I try to fight them off, but there are too many. At least six. They drag me into an alley and handle me in much the same way I took care of Gavin. They club me with their hands and hold me down and all take turns. I can feel blood crawling across my face and bruises showing up along my ribs, my legs, and my stomach." (179)

~ "I thought about it. Taxi driver. Local loser. Cornerstone of mediocrity. Sexual midget. Pathetic cardplayer. And now weird-shit magnet on top of it. Admit it. It’s not a bad list I’m building up." (136)

~"I don’t tell him about the messages I’ve already done or the ones still left to do. I only tell him that I have a purpose here and that it will come to me." (144)

~ "You can kill a man with those words." (120)

~ "I want to take that world, and for the first time ever, I feel like I can do it. I’ve survived everything I’ve had to so far. I’m still standing here." (124)