“I'm a candle flame that sways in currents of air you can't see. You need to be the one who steadies me to burn.”

“Will has always been the brighter burning star, the one to catch attention — but Jem is a steady flame, unwavering and honest. He could make you happy.”

“[...]the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes “Awww!”

“Hope is a flicker, a candle flame kept burning by the simple act of breathing.”

“You want to shout, can't you see I'm here? Can't you see I'm brand new? Can't you see me at all?”

“There is no such thing as an artist: there is only the world lit or unlit as the light allows. When the candle is burning, who looks at the wick? When the candle is out, who needs it?”