“The justifications of men who kill should always be heard with skepticism, said the monster.”

“This is all sounding pretty fairy tale-ish,” Conor said, suspiciously.You would not say that if you heard the screams of a man killed by a spear, said the monster. Or his cries of terror as he was torn to pieces by wolves. Now be quiet.”

“After he killed the farmer's daughter, said the monster, the prince lay down next to her and returned to sleep. When he awoke, he acted out a pantomime should anyone be watching. But also, it may surprise you to learn, for himself. The monster's branches creaked. Sometimes people need to lie to themselves most of all.”

“You’re as old as the land and you’ve never heard of sarcasm?” Conor asked.Oh, I have heard of it, the monster said, putting its huge branch hands on its hips. But people usually know better than to speak it to me.”

“This was a kingdom.(“What?” Conor said, looking around his backyard. “Here?”)(The monster cocked its head at him curiously. You have not heard of it?)(“Not a kingdom around here, no,” Conor said. “We don’t even have a McDonald’s.”)”

“War makes monsters out of men.”

“A monster, I think, remembering what Ben told me once. War makes Monsters of Men.”