How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"I just love her so much," was Colin's answer. But the truth was that, in Colin's mind, the problems were related. The problem was that this most special, magnificent, brilliant boy was—well, not. The Problem itself was that He didn't matter. (2.17)
We're totally on board with the idea that our lives should count for something, and that no one should just throw theirs away. But we can't help but wonder whether Colin's just using this to put pressure on himself to be something he's not (which we definitely do not advise).
Quote #2
"Do you sometimes feel like a circle missing a piece?" his dad wondered.
"Daddy, I am not a circle. I am a boy." (3.45-46)
Did someone order a side of symbolism? Colin's dad thinks he might be missing something, but Colin doesn't understand what his dad means. He is just a toddler after all. Yet, this rings true throughout the rest of the novel. Colin can't really figure out normal ways to interact with people.
Quote #3
Colin had no response to that. But he just didn't get Hassan's apathy. What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable? How very odd, to believe God gave you life, and yet not think that life asks more of you than watching TV. (5.56)
This quote sums up Colin's whole philosophy in life, and we like his idea that we should all try to do something meaningful. We might ask, though, whether reading the phone book and other random books to learn factoids is any better than watching TV. We'll let you be the judge.
Quote #4
As he worked on the Theorem, Colin was so focused that the world outside his notebook seemed not to exist, so he jolted upright in surprise when he heard, from behind him, Lindsey say, "Time for dinner, dude." (13.33)
Colin is so lost in his thoughts and his work that he can't see the world around him. Just like he didn't get what his dad was saying about missing a piece (above), he doesn't know how to interact with the world when he is lost in his thoughts. He might want to matter to the world, but he certainly doesn't live in it.
Quote #5
"Whatever, I like you, and I never really like anybody. Hassan likes you, and I can tell that he never really likes anybody, either. You just need more people who don't like people." (14.4)
Bam—Lindsey sure knows how to tell it straight. She's not one of those lovey-dovey gals who wants to be BFFs with everyone in sight, and yet she still likes Colin. It's important for him to come to the realization that not everyone loves the popular kids, and that there are loads of people just like him who only exist on the fringes of the cool kids.
Quote #6
We're invisible. I've never been here with someone else. It's different being invisible with someone. (14.19)
Shh… we're in a super secret hiding place. Lindsey takes Colin to her hideaway where it's so dark they can't even see each other. We're interested in the way she thinks about her life—she can't be seen by anyone, yet she's with Colin. It's as though they are together, but apart from the rest of the world.
Quote #7
"I feel like I've only ever been two things," he said softly. "I'm a child prodigy, and I'm dumped by Katherines. But now I'm—"
"Neither," Hassan said. (15.85-86)
It's rough when you have a life-altering, time-shifting bombshell thrown at you. For Colin, that's when he figures out he's not actually either of the things he thought made him him. We can totally relate to this. When something like this happens, you've got to figure out what you really want your life to be about, and that's what Colin does (or at least tries to do).
Quote #8
So perhaps the Golden Rule indicated that he should stay mum, and the Golden Rule was really Colin's only Rule. It was because of the Golden Rule, actually, that he hated himself for Katherine III: he'd believed that Katherines did unto him as he would never have done unto them. But there was more to consider than the Golden Rule: there was the small matter of liking Lindsey. That shouldn't factor in to an ethical decision, of course. But it did. (16.12)
Rule #1: Don't follow the rules. Colin is obsessed with rules, facts, and figures, and those don't amount to a life. He figures out he can't make a decision based solely on rules, that he's got to make it with his heart as well. Telling Lindsey about TOC's love fest with Katrina is actually one of the first times he does something for himself (aside from all the number crunching and fact-learning).
Quote #9
"I don't think you can ever fill the empty space with the thing you lost. Like getting TOC to date you doesn't fix the Alpo event. I don't think your missing pieces ever fit inside you again once they go missing. Like Katherine. That's what I realized: if I did get her back somehow, she wouldn't fill the hole that losing her created."
"Maybe no girl can fill it."
"Right. Being a world-famous Theorem-creator wouldn't, either. That's what I've been thinking, that maybe life is not about accomplishing some bulls*** markers. Wait, what's funny?" (19.48)
Isn't that exactly what Colin's trying to do? He wants to prove his worth in life by creating a world-famous theorem. But Lindsey's right—you can't change who you are just by coming up with a fancypants math formula or dating the guy who jilted you years ago. You've got to move past that and in to your own existence. Words to live by, no?
Quote #10
And the other moral of the story is that you, Smartypants, just told an amazing story, proving that given enough time, and enough coaching, and enough hearing stories from current and former associates of Gunshot Textiles, anyone—anyone—can learn to tell a damned good story. (19.92)
Throughout the novel, Lindsey teaches Colin how to tell stories. Really, this is just one big lesson in how to interact with people—did you notice how one of the first lessons is don't interrupt? Duh—we learned that in kindergarten. Her lessons help Colin shift into another existence, one of interacting instead of just reading and learning.