John Knowles, A Separate Peace

"All of them, all except Phineas, constructed at infinite cost to themselves these Maginot Lines against this enemy they thought they saw across the frontier, this enemy who never attacked that way-if he ever attacked at all; if he was indeed the enemy."

"Never say you are five feet nine whenyou are five feet eight and a half"was the first one I encountered.Another was, "Always say some prayers at night because it might turnout that there is a God."

"There was no harm in taking aim, even if the target was a dream."