“The brain is the only organ that tries to make sense of its pain. It is as if the bone were trying to understand the break, as if the blood vessel could comprehend its rupture. But this is also its greatest impediment to understanding. The mind clings fiercely to any alternative to chaos, even if that alternative is self-destruction.”

“Her blood-curdling snoring, with its gargling and squawking and its terrifying pauses is like the sound the devil might make if he were alternately relishing and strangling on a pound of human flesh.”

“Failing sucks. But it's better than the alternative.""Which is?""Not even trying." Now he did look at me, straight on. "Life's short, you know?”

“Much can be gained be contrasting a theory with its alternatives, even ones that look too extreme to be true. You can really understand something when you know what it is not.”

“Humans are mysterious creatures. There comes a time when we can clearly understand even things that we can't see. It's the same with anything. If you try your best, you can understand what it's like to "try your best". If you don't try your best, you understand what it's like to "not try your best".”

“Revelation also comes in receiving greater understanding of the endowment as one seeks to comprehend its meaning.”