Pain struck my heart so sharp and clear–it fractured–only kept whole by a slender thread of hope.
-- Xingyin (chapter 1)

Importance: This quote is how Xingyin describes feeling when she is discovered by the Celestials and has to leave the Pure Light Palace. It illustrates the determination that Xingyin feels even from the beginning to save her mother, never letting go of the belief in herself that she can save her mother.

Everyone has their own troubles; some lay them bare while others hide them better. For myself, I do what I can to stretch the boundaries which chafe, even if it’s just a little each time. Who knows when the slightest shift might make a difference?
-- Liwei (chapter 3)

Importance: Liwei says this to Xingyin when he and Xingyin first meet, and this gets her to open up to him. This quote lays the foundation for the kindness and openness that is so essential...