“He had forgotten how convincing the world could look, how sure of itself: its outlines and edges; it's gradations, recessions, protrusions; it's startling and vulgar colors.”

“Everyone dies. It's a question of where and how, that's all.”

“And it's a cold place the world, especially when warmed by arsen.”

“When you get right down to it, every collection of letters is a magic spell, even it it's a moronic proclamation ... Words have their impact, girl. Mind your manners. I may not know how to fly but I know how to read, and that's almost the same thing.”

“It's just that that was such a wonderful time, even in its strangeness and sadness-and life isn't the same now. It's wonderful, but it isn't the same.”

“It's hard to find evil in this world,' said the Witch. Evil is always more easily imagined than good, somehow.”

“How could anyone live without flying?”