“The spirits of children are remote and wise...”

“Magnificently unprepared For the long littleness of life”

“There is only one argument for doing something; the rest are arguments for doing nothing”

“In Caverna lies were an art and everybody was an artist, even young children.”

“What a world this is, he thought. Children put us to shame with their pluck, and are shot in the back for it.”

“I’m going to get out. Her spirits lurched unsteadily into the air like a wounded pigeon. I’m going to get out of this wormpit of a town. And I will never, never come back here again.”

“I find it hard to believe that a lady like...’ Pertellis hesitated, and coughed. ‘There is something elevated in the female spirit that will always hold a woman back from the coldest and most vicious forms of villainy.’ ‘No, there isn’t,’ Miss Kitely said kindly but firmly, as she set a dish in his hand. ‘Drink your chocolate, Mr Pertellis.”