“The Kiril Islands had changed hands more times than a good coin in a whorehouse.”

“Being crazy about someone isn't nice or passionate or deeply moving; it is, surprisingly enough, crazy.”

“Repeat after me, Mr. Black: I do believe in commas. I do, I do.”

“What I caught that winter was a memory of a purpose.”

“You can't murder a book. Even I know that. But you know what you can do with a book, what you can do is burn it, or throw it out a window, or draw, mm, big hairy moustaches on all the ancient illustrations, and blacken the teeth of the women and children, and-- Oh God, don't. It's like talking about drowning babies. You are a terrible person.”

“I was white. Chalk had more color than I did. And quite possibly more personality.”

“Think about it. These guys have far more reasons to pull a prank on Doug than they do me. I kind of wished we had changed clothes, though.''There wasn't time,' Katie said. 'Your true love is in desperate need of your assistance. How can you think of changing into the appropriate attire for a rescue?”