“Sometimes, it takes us a while to appreciate something new, something that might change us for the better.”

“Makes us appreciate blessing, not be greedy and mean and fat like Polyphemus.”

“Together we made our way down to the street level. Neither of us said a word. The music was awful--Neil Diamond or something. I should've made that part of my gift form the gods: better elevator tunes.”

“It's him," I said. "Typhon."I was seriously hoping Chiron would say something good, like 'No, that's our huge friend Leroy! He's going to help us!”

“It wasn't exactly like talking, but it went something like this: Could you give us a ride north, Percy asked, like as close to Portland as possible?Eat seals, the whale responded. Are you seals?No, Percy admitted. I've got a man satchel full of macrobiotic beef jerky, though.The whale shuddered. Promise not to feed me this, and I will take you north.Deal.”

“Young people don't always do what they're told, but if they can pull it off and do something wonderful, sometimes they escape punishment. ”

“Great," Percy said. "Seven of us against Hercules.""And a satyr!" Hedge added. "We can take him.”