An Abundance of Katherines

by John Green

Prodigies can very quickly learn what other people have already figured out; geniuses discover that which no one has ever previously discovered. Prodigies learn; geniuses do. The vast majority of child prodigies don’t become adult geniuses.

But of course the universe does not conspire to put you in one place rather than another, Colin knew. He thought of Democritus: “Everywhere man blames nature and fate, yet his fate is mostly but the echo of his character and passions, his mistakes and weaknesses.”*

You can love someone so much, he thought. But you can never love people as much as you can miss them.

Books are the ultimate Dumpees: put them down and they’ll wait for you forever; pay attention to them and they always love you back.

It’s different being invisible with someone.”

If people could see me the way I see myself—if they could live in my memories—would anyone, anyone, love me?”