“I want to see children curled up with books, finding an awareness of themselves as they discover other people's thoughts.”

“I wonder if other mothers feel a tug at their insides, watching their children grow up into the people they themselves wanted so badly to be.”

“People should be free to find or make for themselves the kinds of educational experience they want their children to have.”

“Most people don't think past themselves. I know that. But I want Vera to see other people. To respect other people. To realize that the whole world is not here for her. I want her to see her duty to the world, not the other way around.”

“I want to see my wife and children every day, I want to see my grass and blossoms and corn ... But above all, except the wife and children, I want to see my books.”

“I decide that it can't be that hard to be the person you want to be. What's difficult is finding a place in a world with other people, who want different things for themselves.”