Quotes from Neal Shusterman

I'm Cochran. Cochran Stæinsby," he said. "But you can call me Ran." "What a curious nickname." "Well, the first half of Cochran is a bit problematic for a nickname, isn't it?

The building was no warmer than the street outside, and it smelled like something died in there from smelling something else that died in there.

The problem with setting out to change the world was that you were never the only one. It was an endless tug-of-war with powerful players pulling—not just against you, but in every direction—so that whatever you did, even if you made progress against all those vectors, at some point you were bound to go sideways.

But honey, there are some things that must never be said out loud.

Because it is easier to believe that scythes aren't real, and that I am a liar, and that the moon is made of cheese, than it is to admit that everything you believe about the world is wrong.

Loneliness is a relative term. Is a dandelion seed lonely when its pod opens and the wind lifts it into the air? Once it lands and takes root, yes, it is solitary, but is it lonely? Of course not! It is content to know it was one of many.

How do you dream of a future when you're not supposed to have one? How do you keep going when the world has disowned you?- -I keep reminding myself that I'm right, and the world is wrong.- -But how do you know?- -I believe. I don't have your kind of faith, but I got faith in myself...-

So what happens when your universe begins to get off balance, and you don't have any experience with bringing it back to center? All you can do is fight a losing battle, waiting for those walls to collapse, and your life to become one huge mystery ashtray. 19. Deconstructing

I am lost in every possible way-Lev

Do not give in to the urge to extinguish oneself in the waters of the world, but instead be a light above those waters to help guide the way.

The headmaster's tie turns into a noose again, preventing blood from getting to his face

He has no choice but to believe, because losing the hope of having hope would be unimaginable.

But Morrison put up his hands in instant surrender. Leave me out of this, he said. I'm not going up against Scythe Anastasia.

Never let anyone else name you

We're exploring the possibility of building a wall to stem the exodus." "Don't be ridiculous," Goddard said. "Only idiots build walls.

What happened to you was a crime. I can't change that. What I can do is teach you to live with dignity.

In the mortal age, death could not be bargained with. It had to be the same for scythes.

The hiss of waves breaking at her ankles is a gentle sigh, as if the sea itself has found lasting contentment.

So we make decisions and base our lives on those decisions, never realizing we're only seeing one-tenth of the whole. Then we cling to our narrow conclusions like our lives depend on it.

People like you because you've got integrity. Even when you're being an ass.

Was this what life was like in the mortal age? Feeling the finality of one's own flesh at every turn? What a terrible way to exist.

He just defined the dimensions of his own cage.

He wants to tell her, but she's always so busy - and you don't just go to somebody and say, I'm a better person because you're in my head

I)n this world of change and lost memories, time brings all things full circle. That which was discarded becomes priceless.Those who were abandoned will someday be loved—if you can hold on till that day.