do
  local quotes_file = './data/quotes.lua'
  local quotes_table

  function read_quotes_file()
    local f = io.open(quotes_file, "r+")

    if f == nil then
      serialize_to_file({}, quotes_file)
    else
      f:close()
    end
    return loadfile (quotes_file)()
  end

  function get_quote(msg)
    local to_id = tostring(msg.to.id)
    local quotes_phrases

    quotes_table   = read_quotes_file()
    quotes_phrases = quotes_table[to_id]

    return quotes_phrases[math.random(1,#quotes_phrases)]
  end

  function run(msg, matches)
    return get_quote(msg)
  end

  return {
    description = "retrieves random quotes",
    usage = "!quote",
    patterns = {
      "^!quote$"},
      run = run
    }
end