Of all the animals, the boy is the most unmanageable

Of all wild beasts, the most difficult to manage.

Small boys were a mystery to Sylvie. The satisfaction they gained from throwing sticks or stones for hours on end, the obsessive collection of inanimate objects, the brutal destruction of the fragile world around them, all seemed at odds with the men they were supposed to become.

All wars are boyish, and are fought by boys

It's like getting two fat boys in the ring, ... and whoever wins gets to eat.

I could not be happier with what the boys did. I was very pleased with them.