“Can you believe it? They made me an ensign.""I didn't realize that things were going so bad.""Scary, isn't it?”

“A ship doesn't look quite the same from inside, does it? A wise sailor,' Robert said, fanning his arms, 'will one time stand upon the shore and watch his ship sail by, that he shall from then on appreciate not being left behind.' He grinned and added, 'Eh?'George gave him a little grimace. 'Who's that? Melville? Or C.S. Forrester?'It's me!' Robert complained. "Can't I be profound now and again?'Hell, no.'Why not?'Because you're still alive. Gotta be dead to be profound.'You're unchivalrous, George.”

“My name is Herbert Badgery. I am a hundred and thirty-nine years old and something of a celebrity. They come and look at me and wonder how I do it. There are weeks when I wonder the same, whole stretches of terrible time. It is hard to believe you can feel so bad and still not die.”

“Virtue," he said. "The real thing. It's not some kind of cuddly teddy bear you can keep on the shelf until you need a hug. It's dangerous, which is why it makes people so nervous. Virtue has its own agenda, and believe me, it's not always yours. The word itself means strength, power. And when it gets loose, you'd better watch out."Something bad might happen..."Impossible. But possibly something painful"-A Wizard Alone by Diane Duane”

“Believe something and the Universe is on its way to being changed. Because you've changed, by believing. Once you've changed, other things start to follow. Isn't that the way it works?”

“Boys were so proud - you always had to let them think they were good at things.”

“Emmeline didn't call me anything. She didn't need, for I was always there. You only need names for the absent.”