“...the more you try to simplify things, the more you complicate them.”

“The more you try to simplify things the more you complicate them. You create rules, build walls, push people away, lie to yourself and ignore true feelings. That is not simplifying things.”

“...children learn much more, far more quickly than adults. Do you know why that is? Because they're open-minded. Because they want to know and they want to learn. Adults, think they know it all. They grow up and forget so easily and instead of opening their minds and developing it they choose what to believe and what not to believe. You can't make a choice on things like that: you either believe or you don't. That's why their learning is slower. They are more cynical, they lose faith and they demend to know things that will help them get by day by day. They've no interest in the extras...It's the extras that make life.”

“Today I love you more than ever; tomorrow I will love you even more. I need you more than ever, I want you more than ever.”

“I also believe that when people are going through difficult situations in life... it causes them to search a lot more. They search life and search their soul. When you’re searching, you’re suddenly a lot more open to the world around you, to the possibilities, to things you never thought about before. — When you’re happy, you don’t question the world so much. When you’re lost, you question everything. The very reason why it is so essential to human self-discovery”

“Children understand...things far better. Adults always make things so complicated.”

“You know, it’s interesting. Children learnmuch more, far more quickly than adults. Do you know why that is?”Elizabeth assumed there was some scientific explanation for it, butshook her head.“Because they’re open-minded. Because they want to know and theywant to learn. Adults”—he shook his head sadly—“think they know it all.They grow up and forget so easily instead of opening their minds, they choosewhat to believe and what not to believe. You can’t make a choice on things likethat, you either believe or you don’t. That’s why their learning is slower. Theyare more cynical, they lose faith, and they only demand to know things thatwill help them get by day by day. They’ve no interest in the extras. But, Elizabeth,”he said, his voice a loud whisper, eyes wide and sparkling, and Elizabethshivered as goose pimples rose on her arms. She felt as if he were sharingthe world’s greatest secret with her.“It’s the extras that make life.”“That make life what?” she whispered.He smiled. “That make life.”Elizabeth swallowed the lump in her throat. “That’s it?”Ivan smiled. “What do you mean, that’s it? How much more can youget than life, how much more can you ask for than life? That’s the gift. Lifeis everything, and you haven’t lived it properly until you believe.”