How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"I feel like I've only ever been two things," he said softly. "I'm a child prodigy, and I'm dumped by Katherines. But now I'm—"
"Neither," Hassan said. (15.85-86)
It's rough when you have a life-altering, time-shifting bombshell thrown at you. For Colin, that's when he figures out he's not actually either of the things he thought made him him. We can totally relate to this. When something like this happens, you've got to figure out what you really want your life to be about, and that's what Colin does (or at least tries to do).
Quote #8
So perhaps the Golden Rule indicated that he should stay mum, and the Golden Rule was really Colin's only Rule. It was because of the Golden Rule, actually, that he hated himself for Katherine III: he'd believed that Katherines did unto him as he would never have done unto them. But there was more to consider than the Golden Rule: there was the small matter of liking Lindsey. That shouldn't factor in to an ethical decision, of course. But it did. (16.12)
Rule #1: Don't follow the rules. Colin is obsessed with rules, facts, and figures, and those don't amount to a life. He figures out he can't make a decision based solely on rules, that he's got to make it with his heart as well. Telling Lindsey about TOC's love fest with Katrina is actually one of the first times he does something for himself (aside from all the number crunching and fact-learning).
Quote #9
"I don't think you can ever fill the empty space with the thing you lost. Like getting TOC to date you doesn't fix the Alpo event. I don't think your missing pieces ever fit inside you again once they go missing. Like Katherine. That's what I realized: if I did get her back somehow, she wouldn't fill the hole that losing her created."
"Maybe no girl can fill it."
"Right. Being a world-famous Theorem-creator wouldn't, either. That's what I've been thinking, that maybe life is not about accomplishing some bulls*** markers. Wait, what's funny?" (19.48)
Isn't that exactly what Colin's trying to do? He wants to prove his worth in life by creating a world-famous theorem. But Lindsey's right—you can't change who you are just by coming up with a fancypants math formula or dating the guy who jilted you years ago. You've got to move past that and in to your own existence. Words to live by, no?