“There are those who merely dabble in withering looks, but Kyogokudo was a widely recognized master of the art. He favored me with one now.”

“Why do you think I'm reading this? But you know—though maybe you have different standards for what constitutes 'interesting' than I do—there's no such thing in this world as an uninteresting book. Any book is interesting; and not just when it's new. Even books you've already read can be quite fascinating. It just takes a little more effort to get there, that's all.”

“There is nothing that is strange in this world, Sekiguchi”

“This is myself, baby. All of my selves. I own each and every one of them. I know who I'm pretending to be and who I am." The look he gives me is withering. "Do you?”

“I am usually more impressed with people who are artful in shuffling a deck, than those who can masterfully play chess.”

“A person with taste is merely one who can recognize the greatest beauty in the simplest things.”

“Practice radical humility." He (or she)who masters the art of humility cannot be humiliated...”