“What was more, they had taken the first step toward genuine friendship. They had exchanged vulnerabilities.”

“Bragging about your compassion is the first step towards feeling a genuine emotion.”

“The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself.”

“. . . Moon-Watcher felt the first faint twinges of a new and potent emotion. It was a vague and diffuse sense of envy--of dissatisfaction with his life. He had no idea of its cause, still less of its cure; but discontent had come into his soul, and he had taken one small step toward humanity.”

“Our friendship is made up of these brief frenzied exchanges, but the quality of our conversation, for all its feverish outpouring, is genuine.”

“I had already taken a step toward their house, but then Father said, 'No, not there. They're hiding Jews.'"Christ!" exclaimed Anton, slapping his forehead.”