"A man's wishes may not always determine his destiny, his mission; perhaps there are other, predetermining factors" (Chapter 1, p. 5).

"Some secret flaw seemed attached to Goldmund's birth, something unspoken that sought expiation" (Chapter 2, p. 15).

"Deep inside himself he felt the life he had dreamed of up to now, all his beliefs, all the things for which he felt himself destined, his entire vocation, threatened at the root by the kiss through the window, by the expression of those dark eyes" (Chapter 3, p. 26).

"Some day you will think of what I am going to say to you now: our friendship has no other purpose, no other reason, than to show you how utterly unlike me you are" (Chapter 3, p. 32).

"I call a man awake who knows in his conscious reason his innermost unreasonable force, drives, and weaknesses and knows how to deal with them" (Chapter 4, p. 42).

"His mother meant...