- Control Voice: Deep beyond the kindest, gentlest soul may lurk violent thoughts, deadly wishes. Someday men may learn how to cope with the monsters of the mind. Then, and only then, when the human mind is truly in control of itself, can we begin to utilize the great and hidden powers of the universe.
- Harold J. Finley: You want me to stay a worm, don't you? An unimportant, unproductive, classroom worm. Some women take their husband's hands and say, "Together we'll climb to the stars." Not you. Never you.
- Vera Finley: You wouldn't hurt anyone even if you could. You're not a violent man. You've never hated anyone, never.
- Harold J. Finley: Not to hurt them, no, Vera, but I have this power. It acts whether I want it to or not.
- Vera Finley: No, Harold, you don't have any power. You've always been quiet. You told me yourself you're too mild, you're too weak.
- Harold J. Finley: No more, Vera! I could split this ceiling open if I wanted to! I could crash down these walls. I could splinter this whole block into bricks and rubble.
- Vera Finley: Harold, you're a little man, a nobody. You don't have any power.
- Harold J. Finley: Just do me one favor. Don't wait until you're my age to make your mark. Do it while you're young and strong and vigorous. Do it right now.
- Dean Radcliffe: [frustrated with Harold] The man's a nobody, a no-talent, ineffectual nobody - precisely the kind who gets all the undeserved breaks.
- Vera Finley: [washing windows and thoroughly unimpressed with Harold bringing home a guest astronaut for dinner] Speaking of the Space Center, Harold, Dean Radcliffe dropped in this afternoon.
- Harold J. Finley: Oh, yes?
- Vera Finley: He wanted to see you. He seemed angry. Said you were neglecting your classes. You can't say I didn't warn you, Harold.
- Harold J. Finley: Oh, well, there's... there's no use letting a little bad news spoil our dinner.
- Vera Finley: I've already eaten. I left some things on the stove for you to heat up. You said you were going to come home early and help wash windows. You didn't, naturally, so I can't stop now.
- Emily Radcliffe: [describing the intruder] And I looked in here and I saw a thing. Hard to describe. It, uh, was like a piece of a storm, snakes of lightning striking in all directions, stabbing and-and burning. It, uh, gave off a sound like a ripping cloth, electricity snapping and tearing.