“I expect most psychiatrists have a patient or two they'd like to refer to me.”

“The most stable elements, Clarice, appear in the middle of the periodic table, roughly between iron and silver.Between iron and silver. I think that is appropriate for you.”

“And then, the last words Raspail ever said: 'I wonder why my parents didn't kill me before I was old enough to fool them.'The slender handle of the stiletto wiggled as Raspail's spiked heart tried to keep beating, and Dr Lecter said, 'Looks like a straw down a doodlebug hole, doesn't it?' but it was too late for Raspail to answer.”

“Nothing made me happen. I happened.”

“I am the dragon, and you call me insane.”

“Over this odd world, this half the world that's dark now, I have to hunt a thing that lives on tears.”

“A census taker tried to quantify me once. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a big Amarone. Go back to school, little Starling.”