“He gets into the habit of thinking so passionately at night that he begins to be persecuted by insomnia.”

“The late-night backyard encounter and kiss induced insomnia.”

“For it is only habit and memory that dulls the physical passion. Without memory, each night is the first night, each morning is the first morning, each kiss and touch are the first.”

“Despereaux was reading the story out loud to himself. He was reading from the beginning so that he could get to the end...”

“Man is a marvelous curiosity … he thinks he is the Creator’s pet … he even believes the Creator loves him; has a passion for him; sits up nights to admire him; yes and watch over him and keep him out of trouble. He prays to him and thinks He listens. Isn't it a quaint idea?”

“The ferocity of her passion was what he'd been waiting for night after torturous night. He wanted her to hunger the way he hungered. To need like he needed.”