These are 10 of my favorite quotes from A Separate Peace.

1. “I threw my hip against his, catching him by surprise, and he was instantly down, definitely pleased. This was why he liked me so much.”

This quote reveals how Gene makes his relationship with Finny thrive, involving playful nature.

2. “We seemed to be nothing but children playing against heroic men.”

This quote shows that the guilt and resentment that Gene faces are far from what a normal teenager would face.

3. “He needed me. I was the least trustworthy person he had ever met.”

This quote shows how Gene forgot about enlisting to stay at Devon with Finny.

4. “It was his wildest demonstration of himself, of himself in the kind of world he loved; it was his choreography of peace.”

This quote portrays how Gene places himself and Finny into a peaceful amity.

5. “I’m sure that he looked down at his leg every morning first thing, as soon as he remembered it, to see if it had not been totally restored while he slept.”

This quote reveals that Gene wonders how Finny is living with his shattered leg.

6. “Just as I knew the field could never grow again, I knew that Leper could not be wild or bitter or psycho tramping across the hills of Vermont.”

This quote shows how Gene kept on trying to believe that Leper was completely sane, although this was never possible.

7. “To keep silent about this amazing happening deepened this shock for me. It made Finny seem too unusual for—not friendship, but too unusual for rivalry.”

This quote portrays Gene’s desire to become a part of Finny.

8. “His eyes were furious now too, glaring blindly at me. “What do you know about it, anyway?” None of this could have been said by the Leper of the beaver dam.”

This quote shows Leper’s reaction to Gene trying to strip him of his identity.

9. “My aid alone had never seemed to him in the category of help. The reason for this occurred to me as the procession moved slowly across the brilliant foyer to the doors; Phineas had thought of me as an extension of himself.”

This quote reveals how Finny is wanting Gene to be a part of him.

10. “I was beginning to see that Phineas could get away with anything. I couldn’t help envying him that a little, which was perfectly normal. There was no harm in envying even your best friend a little.”

This quote shows how Gene is extremely jealous of Finny for his ability to squirm out of any trouble.