“And through it all, Adèle sat idle at the organ keyboard—listening to the muffled gasps of the old compressor in the basement—listening as it wheezed and pleaded its convincing argument for swift mutual retirement.”

“If one listens one may be convinced; and a man who allows himself to be convinced by an argument is a thoroughly unreasonable person”

“When a lady does consent to listen to an argument against her own opinions, she is always predetermined to withstand it - to listen only with her bodily ears, keeping the mental organs resolutely closed against the strongest reasoning.”

“Dom Paulo had not expected to convince him. But it was with a heavy heart that the abbot noticed the plodding patience with which the thon heard him through; it was the patience of a man listening to an argument which he had long ago refuted to his own satisfaction.”

“So I watch my sadness, gleaming in all of its soft pastel glory. And I listen to the arguments against my sanity. ”

“Instincts sent sparks throughout her body pleading with her to stay away or else, but she didn't listen. How could she listen? This was Jack”