Thunderhead (Arc of a Scythe, #2)

by Neal Shusterman

While freedom gives rise to growth and enlightenment, permission allows evil to flourish in a light of day that would otherwise destroy it. A self-important dictator gives permission for his subjects to blame the world’s ills on those least able to defend themselves. A haughty queen gives permission to slaughter in the name of God. An arrogant head of state gives permission to all nature of hate as long as it feeds his ambition. And the unfortunate truth is, people devour it. Society gorges itself, and rots. Permission is the bloated corpse of freedom.

“Marie, if we were judged by the things we most regret, no human being would be worthy to sweep the floor.

He does not see… because his eyes are shut too tightly to know anything beyond his own anguish.