“How little of permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger than their virtue.”

“A couple who go on living together merely because that was how they began, without any other reason: was that what we were turning into?”

“That the Party did not seek power for its own ends, but only for the good of the majority. That it sought power because men in the mass were frail cowardly creatures who could not endure liberty or face the truth, and must be ruled over and systematically deceived by others who were stronger than themselves. That the choice for mankind lay between freedom and happiness, and that, for the great bulk of mankind, happiness was better.”

“And how heartbreaking, because if it were all just a few degrees different, she is pretty sure they could be quite happy together.”

“Her parents had gone from a couple who would be different, who would be better than anyone, who were determined to be better than most, to a couple who would be different because they were worse.”

“Maybe there was a magic stronger than spells. Maybe the soulmate principle was responsible, and if two people were meant to be together, nothing could keep them apart.”