Brenda

“Ponyboy, listen, don't get tough. You're not like the rest of us and don't try to be..."
What was the matter with Two-Bit? I knew as well as he did that if you got tough you didn't get hurt. Get smart and nothing can touch you...
"What in the world are you doing?" Two-Bit's voice broke into my thoughts.
I looked up at him. "Picking up the glass."
He stared at me for a second, then grinned. "You little sonofagun," he said in a relieved voice. I didn't know what he was talking about, so I just went on picking up the glass from the bottle end and put it in a trash can. I didn't want anyone to get a flat tire.”
― S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders

“They shouldn't hate each other . . . I don't hate the Socs any more . . . they shouldn't hate . . .”
― S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders

“You get tough like me and you don't get hurt. You look out for yourself and nothin' can touch you...”
― S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders

“Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold . . .” The pillow seemed to sink a little, and Johnny died.”
― S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders