“Bravery is not the absence of fear but the forging ahead despite being afraid”

“He lowered his eyes to his dad's face. There was fear there. Fear. When your dad was frightened, there was something to be frightened about.”

“Knowledge was like candy: you never turned it down, especially if you didn't have to work too hard to get it.”

“Nothing but trees.”

“If I guess your secret, will you tell me if I'm right?" His father laughed but didn't answer.”

“Live to fight another day was an expression that did not take nto account the loved one who would die because you didn't continue fighting today.”

“The word I think of is precarious. I am struck by how precarious it all is. How the things that hold us are only as strong as the faith we have in them.”

“faith gaped at him"how the hell did you do this?" He looked at her as if she'd asked the dumbest question in history. "I'm brilliant.”

“But it wasnt. Sex is not the most intimate thing two lovers can do. Even when the sex is beautiful. Even when its perfect. Millie drew a deep breath as if she remembered how perfect it had truly be...”

“You should never wish for wishful thinking.”

“What you desire is what you want, what you have is what Allah wants.”

“Most people say if you tell a wish it won't come true. But I don't think wishes work like that. I don't believe there's some bad-tempered wish-fairy with a clipboard, checking off whether or not yo...”