Even at five I was thinking about the mystic connection one could discover in another. The idea that you could travel through life with someone seemed to me like the zenith of happiness.
-- John Glynn (Chapter 2)

Importance: This quote demonstrates how John has understood and valued romantic love from a young age because of his parents' example. Because of this, John's complete happiness is dependent upon finding a long-term romantic life partner. This quote establishes love as an important theme in the book, but it also establishes the search for love as one of John's main goals in life. That goal will motivate his actions and choices throughout the book, as well as inform how he thinks about himself, others, and the world around him.

Love hits you instantly, effortlessly, and all at once. It never fades, it never changes, it endures forever, and it defines you. When you find that person, you push...
-- John Glynn (Chapter 2)