Thomas quotes from maze runner

“With time to think, the full reality of what had happened hit Thomas like a falling boulder. Ever since Thomas had entered the Maze, Newt had been there for him. Thomas hadn’t realized just how much of a friend he’d become until now. His heart hurt.
He tried to remind himself that Newt wasn’t dead. But in some ways this was worse. In most ways. He’d fallen down the slope of insanity, and he was surrounded by bloodthirsty Cranks. And the prospect of never seeing him again was almost unbearable. [...]
He pulled the envelope out of his pocket and ripped it open, then took out the slip of paper. The soft lights that ringed the mirror lit up the message in a warm glow. It was two short sentences:
Kill me. If you’ve ever been my friend, kill me.


Thomas read it over and over, wishing the words would change. To think that his friend had been so scared that he’d had the foresight to write those words made him sick to his stomach. And he remembered how angry Newt had been at Thomas specifically when they’d found him in the bowling alley. He’d just wanted to avoid the inevitable fate of becoming a Crank.
And Thomas had failed him. [...]

“Newt suddenly twisted around and grabbed Thomas by the hand holding the gun. He yanked it toward himself, forcing it up until the end of the pistol was pressed against his own forehead. “Now make amends! Kill me before I become one of those cannibal monsters! Kill me! I trusted you with the note! No one else. Now do it!”
Thomas tried to pull his hand away, but Newt was too strong. “I can’t, Newt, I can’t.”
“Make amends! Repent for what you did!” The words tore out of him, his whole body trembling. Then his voice dropped to an urgent, harsh whisper. “Kill me, you shuck coward. Prove you can do the right thing. Put me out of my misery.”
The words horrified Thomas. “Newt, maybe we can—”
“Shut up! Just shut up! I trusted you! Now do it!”
“I can’t.”
“Do it!”
“I can’t!” How could Newt ask him to do something like this? H

"Are they changed because they want to go back to their old life, or is it because they're so depressed at realizing their old life was no better than what we have now?"

Thomas, p.149

Thomas asks this question after learning about the Changing, forcing Alby and the others to consider what they have witnessed in those who have gone through it. The Changing seems to make its victims unpleasant company thereafter. These individuals become shunned by the greater Glader community. When Thomas hears that the Changing causes old memories to be recovered, shedding light on the state of the outside world, he begins to wonder if this is the cause of their depression. If one spent their waking life dreaming of a better home, they would be crushed to learn that it no longer exists, if it ever did.

This quote also foreshadows what the Gladers will eventually discover about the Flare and how it has ravaged the Earth. Thomas seems to suspect that the outside world is long gone but also sees that they have no choice but to try to escape their immediate situation.

“I promised him!" he screamed, realizing even as he did so that his voice was laced with something wrong. Almost insanity. "I promised I'd save him, take him home! I promised him!”

Thomas, p. 358

Thomas reflects on Chuck's death, telling Teresa about the promise he made to him. Thomas's characterization as a savior of the Gladers and the resulting guilt he experiences when he is unable to save his friend, are foreshadowed throughout the novel. Chuck is set up as a character whose death will propel Thomas's development and motivation as a leader.

Thomas promises Chuck a stable life with a loving family, the type of fantasy any orphan might wish for themselves. It is essential for them to believe that such a life is possible, even if they may have their internal doubts. Thomas looks upon Chuck as a younger brother more than as a friend. He makes him this promise to help k

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