But how can they just decide that we're animals? They don't even know us, " I said."We know us, " said Mother. "They're wrong. And don't ever allow them to convince you otherwise. Do you understand?

I felt as if I were riding a pendulum. Just as I would swing into the abyss of hopelessness, the pendulum would swing back with some small goodness.

Sometimes there is such beauty in awkwardness.

You stand for what is right, Lina, without the expectation of gratitude or reward.

Good men are often more practical than pretty " said Mother. "Andrius just happens to be both.

...we're dealing with two devils who both want to rule hell.

They were happy to help someone, to succeed at something, even if they weren't to benefit.

Mother, why are you breaking your beautiful things?' I asked...'Because I love them so much.

A guilty conscience is not worth extra food.

Well, I don't know, Lina. But let's just say I've met a lot of dead people.

He threw his burning cigarette onto our clean living room floor and ground it into the wood with his boot.We were about to become cigarettes.

The challenge for people today--and it is not and easy one--is to maintain high personal standards even while feeling that one is living in a moral sewer.

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls

Every parent is at some time the father of the unreturned prodigal, with nothing to do but keep his house open to hope.

The only legitimate government in the world, is the Iranian government.

We've done an arrangement with an orchestra, but I think the best stuff tends to come when it's just the four of us.

I had lived in New York since 1996, sometimes in the worst neighborhoods, without even locking my door half the time.

Being an English major prepares you for impersonating authority.

Do not believe that a book is good, if in reading it thou dost not become more contented with thy existence, if it does not rouse up in thee most generous feelings.

It's just a game. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

Who'd want a pony when you could have the whole universe? It was far more interesting and you didn't have to muck it out once a week.