“Oh yes that’s right, you’re man of principle aren’t you?’ Jim said, somewhat tetchily. ‘Made of unbending rock with no room for compromise. Heart of oak, nerves of steel, a will of iron … and a knob of butter.”

“Yes, but nomes aren’t hard to make,” said Dorcas. “You just need other nomes.” “You’re weird.”

“Nothing will bind the eyes of man quicker than the touch of compromise. A principle not compromised is a principle worth dying for. A dream not compromised is a dream worth living for.”

“Lawless men are everywhere in this dark time, oh, yes. Men with cold steel and colder hearts. - Varys”

“What was it about relationships that made you feel so vulnerable? Oh, right. A relationship. In any relationship, you put yourself out there. You exposed all of your sensitive nerve endings and your heart and you just had to hope that you trusted the right person.”

“Inside the room there sat a rocker, which she sat on, and which had rocked her while she sipped the beer, because in spite of herself she had become so giddy to have so quickly relieved her heart that she allowed herself to lean backwards while in the rocker, which had made it possible for the rocker to rock her, although it was not her intention to be so rocked. Also there stood an ironing board with a still hot iron on it that was burning a yellow shift, and there was, among several items that were not as noticeable to the woman, and yet were noticeable enough to at least bear mention, a fake man."I hope you don't mind me asking," said the woman who lived in the room, but then while in her chair she nodded off.”