Stories are light.

The sound of the king's music made Despereaux's soul grow large and light inside of him.

Stories are light. Light is precious in a world so dark. Begin at the beginning. Tell Gregory a story. Make some light.

And hope is like love...a ridiculous, wonderful, powerful thing.

There ain't no point in making soup unless others eat it. Soup needs another mouth to taste it, another heart to be warmed by it.

The world is dark, and light is precious.Come closer, dear reader.You must trust me.I am telling you a story.

Despereaux was reading the story out loud to himself. He was reading from the beginning so that he could get to the end...

The April sun, weak but determined, shone through a castle window and from there squeezed itself through a small hole in the wall and placed one golden finger on the little mouse.

Once upon a time, " he said out loud to the darkness. He said these words because they were the best, the most powerful words that he knew and just the saying of them comforted him.

Desperaux, " she said. He saw his name on her lips."I honor you, " whispered Desperaux. "I honor you.

God can bless you, wherever you are.

I know what I'm giving up for Lent: my New Year's resolutions.

I'm a total performer.

Homogeneity is much to be admired - in milk, for instance - but not for parties.

The true grandeur of humanity is in moral elevation, sustained, enlightened and decorated by the intellect of man

One of Buddhism’s main practices is understanding and experiencing compassion, and how that ultimately is a road to happiness.

I do regard her as one who is too modest for the world in general to be aware of half her accomplishments, and too highly accomplished for modesty to be natural of any other woman.

I buy my shoes a size too small. I like the way it feels.

I always hope to be a better person tomorrow than today.

If true, rarely beautiful. If beautiful, rarely true.