- Clarisse McClellan: Why do I always make you nervous?
- Guy Montag: You don't.
- Clarisse McClellan: When I see you burning up Eel's lives, you don't look nervous.
- Guy Montag: That's because I'm very good at my job.
- Clarisse McClellan: Hmm. Have you ever thought, even for one second, why you do what you do? You should try reading before burning.
- Captain Beatty: Do you want to know what's inside all these books? Insanity. The Eels want to measure their place in the universe, so they turn to these novels about non-existent people. Or worse, philosophers. Look, here's Spinoza. One expert screaming down another expert's throat. "We have free will. No, all of our actions are predetermined." Each one says the opposite, and a man comes away lost, feeling more bestial and lonely than before. Now, if you don't want a person unhappy, you don't give them two sides of a question to worry about.
- Guy Montag: Just give 'em one.
- Captain Beatty: Better yet, none.