“All I'm saying is that I understand if the novelty's worn off and you want to get off the carousel ride now before it kills you.”

“Mama, I know you used to ride the bus. Riding the bus and it’s hot and bumpy and crowded and too noisy and more than anything in the world you want to get off and the only reason in the world you don’t get off is it’s still fifty blocks from where you’re going? Well, I can get off right now if I want to, because even if I ride fifty more years and get off then, it’s the same place when I step down to it. Whenever I feel like it, I can get off. As soon as I’ve had enough, it’s my stop. I’ve had enough.”

“Cut off the dead wood before it kills the tree.' If you have friends who backstab you, get rid of them now before they hurt you.”

“Then the carousel started, and I watched her go round and round...All the kids tried to grap for the gold ring, and so was old Phoebe, and I was sort of afraid she's fall off the goddam horse, but I didn't say or do anything. The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off, they fall off, but it is bad to say anything to them.”

“... and now I'm telling you that if you want me, get off your ass, because I love you, Evan, more than anything”

“Sorry, you're on the ride now, and there's no getting off in the middle.”