“At the pet store he picked out two painted turtles, each about as big around as a mayonnaise-jar lid. He bought them a large kidney shaped dish that had its own little island, a plastic palm tree, some aquatic plants, and a snail. The snail, presumably, to bolster the self-esteem of the turtles: "You think we're slow? Look at that guy." To store up the snail's morale in the same way, there was a rock.”

“A large grey stone lay in the centre of the grass and he stared moodily at it or watched the great snails. They seemed to love the little shut-in bay with its walls of cool rock, and there were many of them of huge size crawling slowly and stickily along its sides.”

“Will you walk a little faster?' said a whiting to a snail,'There's a porpoise close behind us and he's treading on my tail.See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance!They are waiting on the shingle -- will you come and join the dance?Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the dance?”

“Lovers are not snails; they don't have to protrude from their shells and meet each other halfway. Meet me within your own self.”

“Beware. Beware. Beware of the big, green dragon that sits on your doorstep. He eats little boys, puppy dog tails and big, fat snails. Beware. Take care. Beware.”

“I took out the book once more. Snails can sleep for three years without eating. Snail comas. Welcome to my world.”