“Being poor is only romantic in books.”

“Too many books. . . too many fairy tales led him to believe that there was something romantic in being a soldier.”

“Art is amoral; so is life. For me there are no obscene pictures or books; there are only poorly conceived and poorly executed ones.”

“Because by now Elinor had understood this, too: A longing for books was nothing compared with what you could feel for human beings. The books told you about that feeling. The books spoke of love, and it was wonderful to listen to them, but they were no substitute for love itself. They couldn't kiss her like Meggie, they couldn't hug her like Resa, they couldn't laugh like Mortimer. Poor books, poor Elinor.”

“Being poor is a mere trifle. It is being known to be poor that is the sting.”

“Because to the poor, books are not diversions. Book are siege weapons.”