“A writer needs four things to achieve greatness, Pasquale: desire, disappointment, and the sea.”“That’s only three.”Alvis finished his wine. “You have to do disappointment twice.”

“Nothing you become will disappoint me; I have no preconception that I'd like to see you be or do. I have no desire to forsee you, only to discover you. You can't disappoint me”

“There is no disappointment so numbing...as someone no better than you achieving more.”

“I mean you have been disappointed in love, but don't you know how many things there are to be disappointed in besides love? You are lucky to be still disappointed in love. Later it may be even more terrible.”

“There are disappointments in all men's lives, even those who have achieved their ambition, and there are compensations.”

“Thirty three thousand, three hundred and thirty three things. That’s all I need to get by. Oh, and I guess I also need love. Better make that thirty three thousand, three hundred and thirty four.”