“For the Earth itself is a blossom, she says, on the star tree, pale with luminous ocean leaves.”
“The optimist sees the doughnut, the pessimist sees the hole.”
“If the stars should appear but one night every thousand years how man would marvel and adore.”
“Would it be possible for me to see something from up there? asked Milo politely. You could, said Alec, but only if you try very hard to look at things as an adult does. Milo tried as hard as he could, and, as he did, his feet floated slowly off the ground until he was standing in the air next to Alex Bings. He looked around very quickly and, an instant later, crashed back down to the earth again. Interesting, wasn t it? asked Alex. Yes, it was, agreed Milo, rubbing his head and dusting himself off, but I think I ll continue to see things as a child. It s not so far to fall.”
“Sometimes the most scenic roads in life are the detours you didn t mean to take.”
“The story of my family. . .changes with the teller.”
“Silverfish looked down. Oh. Are you a dwarf? Cuddy gave him a blank stare. Are you a giant? He said. Me? Of course not! Ah. Then I must be a dwarf, yes.”
“It all depends on what people you re talking about helping. That s the wonderful think about just about every religion on the planet - they re all so incredibly selfish.”
“We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware – beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.”
“It s one of those things a person has to do; sometimes a person has to go a very long distance out of his way to come back a short distance correctly.”
“You can t see the world from somebody else s point of view and not be changed.”
“Perspective [is] a luxury when your head [is] constantly buzzing with a swarm of demons.”
“One of the best gifts you can give to someone, is a wider perspective. It s also one of the best gifts you can receive. So if you have given someone a wider perspective, don t feel bad about it (about taking their blindfolds off and having to watch them cringe in the newfound sunlight); I know it s hard, but you re doing them a lasting favor. And a wider perspective can be difficult for you yourself to accept, in the beginning (during the time that you squint while the sunlight stings your own eyes), but later you ll find yourself coming back to it, even if you abandoned it as something worthless; you ll look for it, one day. Or it will grow on you. Perspective.”
“It s only a two-day hike. But it lasts a lifetime.”
“It isn’t the mountain ahead that wears you out; it is the grain of sand in your shoe.”
“We begin to learn wisely when we re willing to see world from other people s perspective.”
“Instead of thanking God for my two strong legs that are able to run and jump and climb, I whined about my thunder thighs and thick ankles. Instead of rejoicing that I have two capable arms that can lift and carry and balance my body, I complained about the flab that hung beneath them. I have been totally and unbelievably ungrateful for everything. Like a completely spoiled brat, I took my healthy body for granted. I criticized it and despised it. With crystal clarity, I know that I do not deserve the good health that God has mysteriously blessed me with. Not only have I been unappreciative of my body and its amazing working parts, I tortured it by overexercising, and I put my entire health at serious risk by starving myself. What on earth was wrong with me? As I watch these kids with their less-than-perfect bodies, I feel so thoroughly ashamed of myself. I mean, how could I have been so stupid and shallow and self-centered?”