"In our search for freedom, honestly, love, and equality, many of them claim, we have found only meaningless sex, loneliness, and lack of commitment" (Introduction, pg. 2.)

"While some of the fruits of America's sexual revolution have not been sweet, we cannot simply look to traditional courtship for remedies" (Introduction, pg. 3.)

"The transition from calling to dating was as complete as it was fundamental" (Chapter 1, pg. 14.)

"The practice of dating was a response of the lower classes to the pressures and opportunities of urban-industrial American, just as calling was a response of the upper stratas" (Chapter 1, pg. 17.)

"Money purchased obligation; money purchased inequality; money purchased control" (Chapter 1, pg. 23.)

"Dating filled a need in an urban society in which not all respectable young women had parlors in their homes and childhood friends infrequently grew up to become husband and wife" (Chapter 2, pg. 25.)

"The rating-and-dating system was individual competition expressed through...