“Destiny is just the inevitable result of choice, from the choices that came before us to the choices we make. They are a river that can only flow in one direction.”
“Nature cannot be reprogrammed forever. Humans are not meant to run like software. You cannot hack the human condition.”
“He found that worry was a completely renewable resource. The more he had, the more he got.”
“Laugh a little Syd," Knox said. "Life is too short for perpetual misery.”
“The only people who couldn't understand the brutal lengths others would go to for money were the people who'd never been without it.”
“We should all get a little forgiveness—without it, there can be no kindness.”
“He wondered if anyone really ever changed, or if stuff just piled on and on, covering up, but never erasing all the different parts. How deep would you have to dig to find who you started out as?”
“Honesty was its own kind of peace.”
“Some things are more important that any one person.”
“I believe you, Knox...And I don't care...Got it? I believe you're sorry. I. Don't. Care. I don't want your sorry. Live with your guilt. It's the one debt you owe me and I don't ever, ever want it repaid.”
“It's not easy to throw your life away, even for a good reason, even when it's the right thing to do. It was simple enough. Debt or no: Syd did not want to die.”
“Nothing mystical about destiny. Destiny is just the inevitable result of choice, from the choices that came before us to the choices we make. They are a river that can only flow in one direction.”
“In the end, someone would have to pay for it. Everything costs.”
“It was good to be admired for something. Everyone should feel that way sometimes, he thought.”
“Of course, it made no sense. The goat couldn't object or agree. The goat couldn't forgive. The goat didn't even know what was happening. Only humans could accept responsibility, and only humans could take on a debt. Only humans could stand in for one another...A goat would always be a goat, but humans can change how they define one another and how they define themselves. That was civilization.”
“He grinned and then pulled Syd's face to him, pressing their lips together. At first Syd flinched, then he relaxed and let his hands fall to Knox's side. The battle around them vanished, the world that was nd the world to come, all disappeared for one instant as their lips held on to one another.”
“A life for a life. All debts have to be repaid.”
“His proxy turned and thrashed in his sleep, but Knox didn't wake him. His dreams, like everyone Else's, were his own. So were his nightmares.”
“Guilt. That might have been the only purely human feeling Knox had left.”
“This is bigger than you," said Mr. Baram. "You can bring down this whole system. Erase the data that enslaves so many. Jubilee. Freedom. Forgiveness. Is that not enough?”
“Know must look the same. He'd never thought he'd be someone with tired eyes. Never thought, he'd stare across a fire at a girl who had them, a girl who'd lied to him and insulted him and, really, when it came down to it, ruined his life. He never thought he'd want to keep staring at her. (The Frog Prince Story.”
“... but she believed and that was the price of belief. It gave no discounts to friendship (p370)”
“Knox's father shrugged. "They're children. We don't need their forgiveness.”
“(Yovel) "Jubilee," said Maire. "The day when all debts are forgiven."..."Yes," said Mr.Baram. "In the old holy books, there was a commandment that every fifty years, all debts were to be forgiven, all slaves were to be freed and all property returned. You are marked with the word of that commandment.”
“A grudge was just another debt owed.”
“It is easy enough to die for the good and beautiful; the hard thing is to die for the miserable and corrupt.”
“Jealousy is a useless, time-wasting emotion that's eating me alive.”
“I whirled to see the snake springing up from the ferns and bouncing towards us, fast. This time we turned and ran. Every time I looked around, the snake was still there. I wanted to laugh and scream at the same time. The little creature was ridiculous. It was terrifying, and it was also gaining on us.”
“Life, that can shower you with so much splendour, is unremittingly cruel to those who have given up.”
“A smile flitted over his full mouth, it was so rare and fleeting that it robbed her of her breath.”
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