“Reason, it seems to me, is useless in these matters, becomes either an apologist for faith or its persecutor. Catch me tomorrow; I may change my mind. Today, I'm happy deferring to the muddle.”

“We're compensated metaphysically with the absolute freedom to define and pursue whatever it is we believe will make our lives worthwhile- a dubious birthright that imparts a wearisome burden of its own. Rather like choosing one all-important meal from an infinite menu.”

“Philosophical systems have a habit of collapsing under the scrutiny of the next malcontent to come along.”

“I tend to forget how important she is." Jasper looked into his brother's brown eyes and remembered when they had sat and talked when they were young. "I mean, I know how important she is to me. If something were to happen to her, I may as well let the same happen to me. But it's easy to forget why she is here. That she didn't just come back to make me happy.”

“I was giddy with relief and I started to giggle again. "If you're sorry, then I'm sorry.""Why would you be sorry? You were upstairs!""Well, they were here for me, weren't they? It's my fault everyone breaks your nose and tries to kill you."He took a deep breath to object and started to laugh. "I'll give you that one. But don't worry, I don't mind.”

“When they killed my family, they may as well have killed me, Hayden. I was fourteen when I killed my first man. I wasn't even of age. All I could think about was what he had done to my mother, my father, my sister and my brother. That was all I could see. Luke found out who they were and we took care of them. I spent the next sixteen years doint the same thing. I don't think I was alive. I died that night."I never worried going into battles. I never cared what would happen if I jumped into an ambush. How could I die if I was already dead?"I reached back and pulled his head down so that it was against mine. His arms tightened around me."But then one day, I looked down a hill and saw this most beautiful woman. I looked into those unbelievable eyes and my heart jumped. When you kissed me by the lake it started to beat again. You're the one who brought me back to life, Hayden, and now that I'm alive again, I'm terrified.”

“I really wish Mike and Joe would stop drawing on me while I'm sleeping.”