The House of the Scorpion Quotes

"I'll tell you this: El Patrón has his good side and his bad side. Very dark indeed is his majesty when he wants to be. When he was young, he made a choice, like a tree does when it decides to gro...

"When you're small you can choose which way to grow." (7.40)

El Patrón laughed. "That's the stuff, Mi Vida. Get rid of your enemies when you can. I don't like Tom either, and dinner will be better without him." (11.30)

He wasted no tears on the Alacráns or their slaves Felicia, Fani, and Emilia. But he wept for El Patrón, who deserved pity less than anyone but who was closer to Matt than anyone in the world. (2...

So Matt allowed her to go, but he was angry at the same time. It was a funny kind of anger, for he felt like crying, too. The house was so lonely without Celia singing, banging pots, or talking abo...

"I knew nothing about it until today," said the doctor."You're lying! Tell them, Willum! You thought it was funny. You said the beast - the boy - was in good condition!" (6.33-34)

A dull, red light shown on the faces of the workers as they watched their own arrays of little glass dishes. Each one contained a drop of life. (1.2)

"Someone isn't going to get a smiley face on his paper," Teacher said with a gasp, leaning against the wall. She started to whimper like a frightened animal. (7.69)

He saw the fantastic gardens of the Big House, the statues of babies with wings, the orange trees festooned with lights. This was his last night on earth, and he wanted to remember everything. (22....