“I gasp, pressing both palms to my chest. Now the monstrous thing has its claws around my throat, squeezing my airway. I twist and put my head between my knees, breathing until the strangled feeling leaves me.”

I feel bare. I didn’t realize I wore my secrets as armor until they were gone and now everyone sees me as I really am.

Then I realize what it is. It’s him. Something about him makes me feel like I am about to fall. Or turn to liquid. Or burst into flames.

How have I never realized before that for all the strong, kind parts of him, there are also hurting, broken parts?

In order to have peace, we must first have trust.

Lies require commitment.

What did you do, memorize a map of the city for fun?” says Christina. “Yes,” says Will, looking puzzled. “Didn’t you?

My name is Four,” I say. “Call me ‘Stiff’ again and you and I will have a problem.

Human reason can excuse any evil; that is why it’s so important that we don’t rely on it.

Looking him in the eye is a challenge. It’s my choice.

It reminds me that no embrace will ever feel the same again, because no one will ever be like her again, because she’s gone. She’s gone, and crying feels so useless, so stupid, but it’s all I can do.

Cruelty does not make a person dishonest, the same way bravery does not make a person kind.

There is a difference between admitting and confessing. Admitting involves softening, making excuses for things that cannot be excused; confessing just names the crimes at its full severity.

We both have war inside us. Sometimes it keeps us alive. Sometimes it threatens to destroy us.

You believe you know them, that you understand them, but their motives are always hidden from you, buried in their own hearts. You will never know them, but sometimes you decide to trust them.

The truth is… you are hurting me. Not on purpose, I know that. But I love you and every second that you don´t love me back…it hurts.

Knowledge is power. Power to do evil…or power to do good. Power itself is not evil. So knowledge itself is not evil.

The past grows gradually around one, like a placenta for dying.

Be careful of love. It’ll twist your brain around and leave you thinking up is down and right is wrong.

Around 20. I’d been trying to transition from the streets to the music business, but I would make demos and then quit for six months. And I started to realize that I couldn’t be successful until I let the street life go.

I felt the music like a physical thing; it didn’t just sit in my ears, it flowed through me, around me, made my senses vibrate. It made my skin prickle and my palms dampen…It was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard.

You’re a liar!” he turned around, his black eyes snapping. “i’m also a thief, a gambler, a cheat, and a murdered. But this happens to be one of the rare times when i’m telling the truth. Go home. Consider yourself lucky. You’ve got a chance to start fresh. Not everyone can say the same.

Every time you think all the technology that had been created already, all you have to do is look around and then there’s someone new who’s born with a new idea.

Nora: i have questions. Patch: i should have known you’ve only been keeping me around for answers. Nora: well, that and your kisses. Anyone ever tell you you’re an incredible kisser?

The meeting was like a war council with donuts. Then again, back at Camp Half-Blood they used to have their most serious discussions around the Ping-Pong table in the rec room with crackers and Cheez Whiz, so Percy felt right at home.