“There ain't no point in making soup unless others eat it. Soup needs another mouth to taste it, another heart to be warmed by it.”

“There ain't a body, be it mouse or man, that ain't made better by a little soup.”

“Yes," said Cook. That is soup that you are smelling. The princess, not that you would know or care, is missing, bless her goodhearted self. and times are terrible. and when times are terrible, soup is the answer. Don't it smell like the answer?”

“She was working to remind herself of who she was. She was working to remember that somewhere in another place entirely she was known and loved.”

“Hands down, the biggest thrill is to get a letter from a kid saying, I loved your book. Will you write me another one? ”

“Dear God, thank you for warm summer nights and candlelight and good food. But thank you most of all for friends. We appreciate the complicated and wonderful gifts you give us in each other. And we appreciate the task you put down before us, of loving each other the best we can, even as you love us. We pray in Christ's name, Amen.”

“There ain't no way you can hold onto something that wants to go, you understand? You can only love what you got while you got it.”