“Ask a kid who's struggling in math if he likes being in a mixed-level class, and he'll tell you he feels like a moron. Ask the math genius if he likes being in a mixed-level class, and he'll tell you he's sick of doing all the work during group projects. Sometimes, it's better to sort like with like.”

“He'll be coming and going" he had said. "One day you'll see him and another you won't. He doesn't like being tied down--and of course he has other countries to attend to. It's quite all right. He'll often drop in. Only you mustn't press him. He's wild, you know. Not like a tame lion.”

“If I have to make moves in her, we'll all get bloody. You, go wake up Raithe. Tell him Hari's waiting to see him. He'll come with you.""Hari?" He frowned like he wasn't sure if he was being kidded. "Of what abbey? In what land?""Hari of Do as You're Told in the land of And Shut the Fuck Up.”

“Be fond of the man who jests at his scars, if you like; but never believe he is being on the level with you.”

“What's it like to be really dead, I wonder. Tell me about it, won't you Dave?" "It's like being alive", he replied. "Only different." “What do you do for kicks?”, she asked. “No kicks”, he replied, shaking her head.”

“You want it to feel like a surprise. You want to keep him guessing whether he'll make you smile entirely so that when you do, he will feel like he's been given a gift.”