“Fortunately, some things stay true whether we believe in them or not.”

I spent half my time loving her and the other half hiding how much I loved her.

“Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.”

“Guide my steps and keep them swift,” she whispered. “Keep the Bright-Eyeds far from me, and please” –she squeezed the bark of the spruce, trying to impart the earnestness of her plea– “please, keep Ellis safe and bring us together again soon.”

“To comfort one who remains willfully ignorant of what he has done is to provide no comfort at all, he said. If you truly wish to comfort him, bring him to admit his sin, then repent of it.”

“And that’s the truth, but like many things in life—so, so many things—it’s not the whole truth.”

Who will be able to stay longer?

There are no good men in this game.