“Our department takes 1,120 calls every day. Do you know how many of the calls the public expects perfection on? 1,120. Nobody calls the fire department and says, 'Send me two dumb-ass firemen in a pickup truck.' In three minutes they want five brain-surgeon decathlon champions to come and solve all their problems.”

“Well, all I hope," said Miss Cornelia calmly, "is that when I'm dead nobody will call me 'our departed sister.”

“If you need to find out the kindling point of paper (451° F), don’t call an academic, call the fire department.”

“So, I guess it's true what they say, beauty and brains don't always go together." Crow smiled. "Did you just call me dumb, but ridiculously good-looking?”

“Do you know that every great thing in the history of art and every beautiful thing in life is actually what you call nasty or has been caused by feelings that you would call nasty? By passion, by love, by hatred, by truth. Do you know that?”

“Privatizing our public schools makes as much sense as privatizing the fire department or or the police department”

“When the zone calls, you must listen. You never know how long being in the zone lasts. It is a cardinal rule - you must take advantage of every second that you are in the zone.”