“It feels good to have something to bring to the table,” Ren said. “I will agree with that. But don'tmistake having money or stuff as being the same as being worthy.”

“Be good at something. It makes you valuable. Have something to bring to the table, because that will make you more welcome.”

“If you have not done things worthy of being written about, at least write things worthy of being read.”

“Geez, woman, you're gonna dislocate my jaw.""Well, don't do that in public, you brute!""Wow." Renfield adjusted his glasses. He was sitting across the table from them with a book. "I feel so privileged, being an audience to this-""Shut up, Ren," the other two said simultaneously.”

“Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition... I have no other so great as that of being truely esteemed of my fellow men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem.”

“And suddenly I realize that although I've never thought about being in love with Nick before, all the right ingredients are there. I fancy him. I like him. He's my friend. He makes me laugh. I love being with him. And I start to feel all sort of warm and glowy, and screw the other stuff. Screw the stuff about him having no money, and living in a bedsit, and not being what I thought I wanted. I'm just going to go with this and see where it ends up. I mean, no one says I have to marry the guy, for God's sake.”