“The opposite of faith isnt doubt. The opposite of faith is certainty.”

“We are this world. Its next generation. If youre not trying to save us, then what exactly are you trying to save?”

“Ester would tell her to dance faster, leap higher, to laugh out loud with all the breath in lungs. Thats what the dead would tell the living, if they couldto grab hold of joy whenever it comes.”

“Your soul is bigger than your programming.”

“Noemy says, I guess its just the idea of love I miss. And, well, it was a good kiss. Her smile turns rueful. At least I got some practice. A wonderful idea occurs to Abel. Do you need more practice...”

“victory that comes from the sacrifice on an innocent isnt a victory. Its the end of us.”

“Love demands freedom. It always has, and it always will. We are free to resist, reject, and rebel against God's ways for us. We can have all the hell we want.”

“Freedom is an absolute state, there is no such thing as being half-free.”

“Imagination is cheap as long as you don't have to worry about the details.”

“The sins of women and children, domestic servants and the weak, the poor and the ignorant, are the sins of the husbands and fathers, the masters, the strong and the rich and the educated.”

“I have always derived indescribable pleasure from leading a decent woman to the edge of sin and leaving her there to live between the temptation and the fear of that sin.”

“Told often enough that they are the source of sin, women may well begin feeling guilty as they accept the necessity for penance. Taught effectively enough that they are irrelevant to the important ...”