“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.”

“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.”

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

“We're not arguing about it, Shawn. We're staying."Shawn stared at her with narrowed eyes. Jasper burst out laughing. I elbowed him."What's so funny?""You. Both of you. Do they raise you to be like that? By the moons, I feel sorry for every man that lives over there!”

“We are God's representatives on earth. We are God's glory, displaying his likeness. After each day of creation God declares what he has made to be 'good'. But only after the 6th day God's verdict on a world that now includes humanity is 'very good'. God's work wasn't finished until there was something in the world to reflect his glory in the world. We often excuse our actions by saying, 'I'm only human.' There is nothing 'only' about being human: we're truly human as we reflect God's glory.”

“It's easy to look back and say if things had been perfect, I could have accommodated all of those things into my life. But as a therapist I do not allow that word to be uttered in my office after the first session, because I believe the only reason for the existence of that word is to make us feel bad. It's the only word in the language (that I know of) that is defined in common usage by what can't be. It sets a vague standard that can't be met because it is never truly characterized. I prefer to think that we're all out here doing our best under the circumstances, looking at our world through the only eyes through which we can look at it: our own.”

“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.”