“I like airplanes. I like anywhere that isn't a proper place. I like in betweens.”

“Listen, gods die when they are forgotten. People too. But the land's still here. The good places, and the bad. The land isn't going anywhere. And neither am I.”

“There's a but, isn't there?" said Coraline. "I can feel it. Like a rain cloud.”

“Nothing, like something, happens anywhere.”

“I think maybe Hell is a place. But you don't have to stay anywhere forever.”

“This book started like this.My son, who is called Michael or Mike these days, but was Mikey back then, was angry at me. I'd said one of those things that parents say, like «isn't it time you were in bed», and he had looked up at me, furious, and said, «I wish I didn't have a dad! I wish I had...» and then stopped and thought, trying to think of what one could have instead of a father. Finally he said «I wish I had goldfish!»”

“I thought I was your destination. Looks like I was just another stop on the line.”