Nothing Appearances Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

"You'll be a fashion designer and teeter around in high heels and make like you're really something and make others think they are too, as long as they're wearing your label." He shook his head. "But then you'll find out you're a clown in a trivial circus where everyone tries to convince each other how vital it is to have a certain look one year and another the next." (4.29)

Check out the fashions from 10, 20, and 30 years ago, and we guarantee you'll find at least one look that makes you wonder what in the sam hill people were thinking. We can definitely be influenced to think things are beautiful or ugly depending on what the rest of the world thinks. Case in point: polyester.

Quote #5

We all knew that none of what we had collected mattered to us, really, so how were we supposed to convince Pierre Anthon that it did?

He was going to see right through us.

Squat. Zilch. Nothing. (5.12-14)

What gives Pierre Anthon the power to see through others? Do you think growing up on a hippie commune made him more of an individual? Or is he just blessed with some sort of awesome insight.

Quote #6

I swapped hair elastics with Gerda, whispered with here about boys, and confided to her that I had warmed a bit to Huge Hans (which wasn't true in the slightest, but though you're not supposed to lie, this was what my older brother referred to as force majeure, and even though I wasn't quite sure what it meant, it definitely entailed that right now lying was okay.) (6.4)

Force majeure is a clause in a contract that frees both parties from responsibility in the case of events beyond their control (for example, if you buy a house that's struck by lightning, you don't have to keep making payments). Do you think it actually applies here?