“Schooling ain't life.""Ain't it?" she says, her eyebrows raising in mock surprise.”

“Life ain't fair.It ain't.Not never.”

“We sure as ruddy heck ain't in Prentisstown no more," I say to Manchee under my breath.”

“Just cuz yer going there and I'm staying here," I say. "It don't mean we're parting.""No," she says and I know she understands. "No, it certainly doesn't.""I ain't parting from you again," I say, still looking at our fingers. "Not even in my head.”

“When luck ain't with you, it's against you.”

“There ain't nothing good that don't got real bad waiting to follow it.”

“The lesson of forever and ever is that knowing a man's mind ain't knowing the man.”