How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Your brother was always neat and clean. […] You can't say that about all of them. But you have to be firm with these people." (1.8)
In this case, "These people" = black people, Native American people, mentally ill people… basically anyone who isn't white, heterosexual, male, and (comparatively) sane.
Quote #2
It's tempting to delude yourself when your screwed-up brother becomes gainfully employed and starts acting less screwed up for a while. You begin to take sanity for granted—convince yourself that optimism's in order. (3.21)
Mental illness almost always comes back, and the quiet periods are really just the calm before the inevitable storm.
Quote #3
There's a pattern with Thomas when he's starting to spiral down—he latches on to one thing and won't let go. Won't give it a rest. Perseveration, the doctors call it. (7.73)
Perseveration is also a term used with people on the autism spectrum.