Mollie

“Without the ability to feel sad, a person could not be kind or thoughtful, because you wouldn't care or know how anybody else feels. Without sadness, you would never learn anything from history. Sadness is the key to loving what you love and to becoming better than you were. A person who never felt sad would be a monster.”
― Richard Powers, Playground

“The world with all its bright and surprising contents was created out of boredom and emptiness. Everything started by holding still and waiting. The perfect story to tell such a dark and anxious child.”
― Richard Powers, Playground

“Play was evolution’s way of building brains, and any creature with a brain as developed as a giant oceanic manta sure used it. If you want to make something smarter, teach it to play.”
― Richard Powers, Playground

“What, normal? Of course you are. I mean in terms of social skills. Ivan can't talk to people, literally.
By which you mean, he can't talk to you.”
― Sally Rooney, Intermezzo