The House of the Scorpion Quotes

“I’ll tell you this: El Patrón has his good side and his bad side. When he was young, he made a choice, like a tree does when it decides to grow one way or the other. He grew large and green until he shadowed over the whole forest, but most of his branches are twisted.”

“Matt wasn’t a boy. He was a beast.”

″‘He’s livestock,’ Steven said with a cold smile. ‘The law is very clear. All clones are classified as livestock because they’re grown inside cows. Cows can’t give birth to humans.‘”

″‘How can anyone celebrate death?’ ‘Because it’s part of us,’ Consuela said softly.”

″‘Mi abuelita said I mustn’t be afraid of skeletons I carry my own around inside,’ said Fidelito. ‘She told me to feel my ribs and make friends with them.‘”

“The only one! He was unique. He was special. Matt’s heart swelled with pride. If he wasn’t human, he might become something even better.”

“Tomorrow he would begin the task of breaking down the empire of Opium. It was a huge and terrifying job, but he wasn’t alone.”

“Have I done you a favor? thought Eduardo as he watched the baby turn its head toward the bustling nurses in their starched, white uniforms. Will you thank me for it later?”

“Matt is to be treated with respect, just as though I were here in his place. He is to be educated, well fed, and entertained. He is not to be mistreated.”

“He threw himself into studying everything that came before him. Matt could name the planets, the brightest stars, and all the constellations. He memorized the names of countries, their capitals and chief exports. He was in a rage to learn. He would excel, and then everyone would love him and forget he was a clone.”