Quotes by Neal Shusterman

The question wasnt whether or not I cared about him; the question was, how much? Im glad Tennyson didnt ask that, because then Id have to ask myself; and I already knew the answer. I cared far more than was safe.

How do you judge the brightness of a light when you’re the source? A spotlight can never see the shadows it casts.

If you’ve ever studied mortal age cartoons, you’ll remember this one. A coyote was always plotting the demise of a smirking long-necked bird. The coyote never succeeded; instead, his plans always backfired. He would blow up, or get shot, or splat from a ridiculous height.And it was funny.Because no matter how deadly his failure, he was always back in the next scene, as if there were a revival center just beyond the edge of the animation cell.I’ve seen human foibles that have resulted in temporary maiming or momentary loss of life. People stumble into manholes, are hit by falling objects, trip into the paths of speeding vehicles.And when it happens, people laugh, because no matter how gruesome the event, that person, just like the coyote, will be back in a day or two, as good as new, and no worse—or wiser—for the wear.Immortality has turned us all into cartoons.

Outside the rain finally began to fall, surging in fits and starts. “I love the way it rains here,” he told her. “It reminds me that some forces of nature can never be entirely subdued. They are eternal, which is a far better thing to be than immortal.

One thing yo learn when youve lived as long as I have-people arent all good, and people arent all bad. We move in and out of darkness and light all of our lives. Right now, Im pleased to be in the light.

Man, Grandma, what big hair you have.The better to style with, my dear.

On a hairpin turn, above the dead forest, on no day in particular, a white Toyota crashed into a black Mercedes, for a moment blending into a blur of gray.

Well never be ready. So I guess that means were as ready as well ever be.

The thing was, if I had found a way to escape- even for just a little while- I knew the pain would be there waiting for me when I got back.

It was easier to deal with Tennyson when he was fighting me; but having him on my side was frightening, because now I didnt know who the enemy was.

Hayden shouts, To the new Teen Uprising!

Walls dont fall without effort.

Mary believes she was put on earth to bring an end to the living world.”Both Nick and Mikey just stared at her.“What do you mean … end?” asked Mikey.“End means end. Complete and total destruction. She wants to kill everyone and everything. She wants to bring down every building, burn every forest, empty every ocean of life. She wants to turn the earth into a dead planet …

Lethargy. Its a word I know, because its in one of my fathers favorite expressions. Lethargy breeds lethargy. It means the more you lie around doing nothing, the more you want to lie around doing nothing. Your limbs and your mind feel so heavy that it becomes a major effort just to lift your arm to channel surf.

I know this is your hand now, she tells him. Roland would have never touched me like that. Connor smiles, and Risa takes a moment to look down at the shark on his wrist. It holds no fear for her now, because the shark has been tamed by the soul of a boy. No- the soul of a man.

I always take credit for my acts of cruelty. To do otherwise is cowardice.

You know, he said, his voice making me feel cold in spite of the heat, this city can get ahold of you and pull you back no matter how hard you try to climb out. Like a grave.

but laugh, laugh, laugh, because if you ever stop laughing, it might just tear you apart

“Therin lies the paradox of the profession, Faraday said. Those who wish to have the job should not have it...and those who would most refuse to kill are the only ones who should.”

“Death must exist for life to have meaning.”