“An empty day, though clear and bright,Is just as dark as any night.”

“Once again St. Nicholas DayHas even come to our hideaway;It won't be quite as fun, I fear,As the happy day we had last year.Then we were hopeful, no reason to doubtThat optimism would win the bout,And by the time this year came round,We'd all be free, and safe and sound.Still, let's not forget it's St. Nicholas Day,Though we've nothing left to give away.We'll have to find something else to do:So everyone please look in their shoe!”

“Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.”

“Harsh words and shouts are constantly being flung at my head, though I'm absolutely not used to it.”

“You seem it's the silence that makes me so nervous during the evenings and nights.”

“No one can keep out of conflict, the entire world is at war, and even though the allies are doing better, the end is nowhere in sight.”

“How can I make it clear to him that what appears easy and attractive will drag him down into the depths, depths where there is no comfort to be found, no friends and no beauty, depths from which it is almost impossible to raise oneself?”