“I know an excuse when I hear one. Don't you dare deceive yourself into believing that you're the victim, Derek Novak.”

“You're only a victim when you allow yourself to be one. ”

“You'll have to ask Bill that, Sookie. And this is the only reason we're going? You're not cleverly usingthis as an excuse to make out with me?""I'm not that clever, Eric.""I think you deceive yourself, Sookie," Eric said with a brilliant smile.”

“I think that 95 percent of knowing you're the greatest is all about confidence. You might suspect you're the greatest, you might hope you're the greatest, but if you don't have the balls to proclaim yourself the greatest in bold packaging, and let your critics test you if they dare, then you probably aren't the greatest. Who can resist the guy who really, truly believes in himself?”

“Idiot. Which road do you take when you're running from something weaker than yourself? Or maybe you're the one looking for an excuse to back out.”

“I did not deceive you, mon ami. At most, I permitted you to deceive yourself.”