“...magic was ugly—-a hard bargain with the universe, a calculus of pain.”
“Social order at the expense of liberty is hardly a bargain”
“If life on death row is safer than life on the streets, it's hard to believe that the fear of execution is a driving force in a criminal's calculus.”
“It appeared painful to regrow a set of hands, but I can hardly blame her for dabbling in street magic. Anyone can see she's addicted to being whole.”
“The universe is full of magical things to be manifested with Cosmic Ordering.”
“You try to be good, to be good and loving and nice and not hard, not tough, a sweet nice girl, not ugly, not full of ugliness, but people make it impossible.”