"You must remember, family is often born of blood, but it doesn't depend on blood. Nor is it exclusive of friendship. Family members can be your best friends, you know. And best friends, whether or not they are related to you, can be your family."
— Trenton Lee Stewart (The Mysterious Benedict Society)

"Rules and school are tools for fools! I Don't give two mules for rules (Mysterious Benedict Society, p. 74)"
— Trenton Lee Stewart

"Children are capable of such open rudeness."
— Trenton Lee Stewart (The Mysterious Benedict Society)

"Every great thinker keeps a journal, you know."
— Trenton Lee Stewart (The Mysterious Benedict Society)

""Oh, here's a clever one. Do you remember this question from the first test?It reads, 'What wrong with this statement?' And do you know what Constance wrote in reply? She wrote, 'What's wrong with you?'""
— Trenton Lee Stewart (The Mysterious Benedict Society)

""Did the men steal the papers?" Reynie asked, fearing her response.
"No, because they are fools," Sophie said bitterly. "They demanded to see the papers, and when I did not answer fast enough -- they were very frightening, you see -- they hurt me so that I was not awake. . . . When I opened my eyes they were still trying to find the papers. They did not understand how we organize the library, you see. They were angry and creating a bad mess. . . . The police were coming and the men decided they must leave. I shouted at them as they left: 'It is a free and public library! All you had to do was ask!""
— Trenton Lee Stewart (The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey)

"Poor Kate,"said Constance,"she's lost her marbles."
— Trenton Lee Stewart (The Mysterious Benedict Society)

"Grow the lawn and mow the lawn
always keep the TV on,
brush your teeth and kill the germs,
poison apples, poison worms."
— Trenton Lee Stewart (The Mysterious Benedict Society)

""Why, then, do you think the white player might have done it?"

Reynie considered. He imagined himself moving out his knight only to bring it right back to where it started. Why would he ever do such a thing? At last he said,"Perhaps because he doubted himself.""
— Trenton Lee Stewart (The Mysterious Benedict Society)

""The missing aren't missing, they're only departed,
All minds keep all thoughts - so like gold - closely guarded,"
"
— Trenton Lee Stewart (The Mysterious Benedict Society)

""The missing aren't missing, they're only departed,
All minds keep all thought - so like gold - closely guarded,"
"
— Trenton Lee Stewart

"'Daddy, will you take me to the mill, again?'"
— Trenton Lee Stewart

"Grow the lawn and mow the lawn
always keep the TV on,
brush your teeth and kill the germs,
poison apples, poison worms."
— Trenton Lee Stewart (The Mysterious Benedict Society)