“You cannot let your parents anywhere near your real humiliations.”

“That's the nature of being a parent, Sabine has discovered. You'll love your children far more than you ever loved your parents, and -- in the recognition that your own children cannot fathom the depth of your love -- you come to understand the tragic, unrequited love of your own parents.”

“Dearest, your little heart is wounded; think me not cruel because I obey the irresistible law of my strength and weakness; if your dear heart is wounded, my wild heart bleeds with yours. In the rapture of my enormous humiliation I live in your warm life, and you shall die--die, sweetly die--into mine. I cannot help it; as I draw near to you, you, in your turn, will draw near to others, and learn the rapture of that cruelty, which yet is love; so, for a while, seek to know no more of me and mine, but trust me with all your loving spirit.”

“Each time you fall He'll pick you up. He knows your own efforts are never going to bring you anywhere near perfection”

“I swear to Go, if I see one of you girls anywhere near us, I'll have your prospective spouses whip you, fifties-style.”

“Boys let your parents pay for dinner when you all go out.”