I was only following orders," the Mayor mocks. "The refuge of scoundrels since the dawn of time.

To say you have no choice is to relieve yourself of responsibility.

No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.

If a mistake is made the honorable thing to do is to own up to it.' Of course I was talking about Levi owning up to his mistakes. But as I finish this book, I realize it applies equally to myself, and to all of us as we try but fail to live up to the standards we know are right. Our inability and unwillingness to keep the standards don't make the standards any less valuable and good.

The final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands.

This is your life. You are responsible for it. You will not live forever. Don't wait.