We consciously decide whether to consider people; we fall in love despite ourselves; we entirely fail to fall in love with people who fall in love with us. It is a mightily complicated business.

The Red Queen shook her head. “You may call it ‘nonsense’ if you like,” she said, “but I’ve heard nonsense, compared with which that would be as sensible as a dictionary!

You want me to pin my entire operation, the entire revolution on some teenaged love story? I can’t believe this.

They don’t know the meaning of danger or fear or pain. It’s only their pride that can be truly hurt.