“All  others [besides Finny] at some point found something in themselves pitted violently against something in the world around them.”

This quote embodies the whole book because it states so accurately the whole agenda of every person in Devon, besides Finny whose only plan was to have fun, which is what got him killed. It means that all people have their own goal and most cant share it with another, especially if they’re as young and immature as the boys at Devon. On top of that, the goals of this bunch rage from murder to power to no responsibilities and can’t be labeled as any kind of real life long or productive goals. This just goes to show you how selfish and immature they are and that they wont ever be outstanding members of society if the remain this way.

Throughout the book, there were always characters who are stuck in their own world and they’re not afraid to show it. For example,  Gene has his eyes are focused on Finny’s back and his goal of life is to beat him; that is his driving motive, the fuel for his hatred. And suddenly when Finny dies, it is gone and he has an unfamiliar “peace” in his life. Also, all Brinker can think of is finding justice (and just over all butting in) in Finny’s and Genes incident and manages to only stir up trouble for them. His enemy is the “injustice” that he feels he must conquer, whether its his business or not. For Mr. Ludsbury it is his need to excel, and for Quackenbush, his need for domination, but they are all just pointless lifestyles that bring no satisfaction or progress for “all of them constructed at infinite cost to themselves this enemy they thought they saw across the frontier; if he was indeed the enemy.” Even Gene, free of his burden, cannot come to a resolution in his life for he is still glorifying his conquered enemy.