“It’d be a poor kind of world where there was just one explanation for things. ---Rhiow”

“There is a kind of virtue that lies not in extraordinary actions, not in saving poor orphans from burning buildings, but in steadfastly working for a world where orphans are not poor and buildings comply with decent fire codes.”

“There are some things that defy explanation- kind of like. . . you know, you.”

“There's no way that can be the river," Rhiow said."Rhi, the ceiling of Grand Central--" Saash said."It's backward," Rhiow snapped, "thank you very much, I know all about it.""Is it?" Saash said. "Which direction are you coming at it from?"Rhiow closed her mouth and thought about that.”

“Poor people never, or hardly ever, ask for an explanation of all they have to put up with. They hate one another, and content themselves with that.”

“In this world there are very few things made from logic alone. It is illogical for man to be too logical. Some things we must just let stand. The mystery is more important than any possible explanation.”