A reader is not supposed to be aware that someone's written the story. He's supposed to be completely immersed, submerged in the environment.

Human interactions, stimulated as they are by disequilibrium, never achieve balance. In even the most favorable transaction, one party whether he realizes it or not must always come out the worse.

Of all questions, why? is the least pertinent. It begs the question; it assumes the larger part of its own response; to wit, that a sensible response exists.

Freedom, privileges, options, must constantly be exercised, even at the risk of inconvenience.

Good music always defeats bad luck

But I've sure worked at jobs where I have been under inspection.

While we are alive we should sit among colored lights and taste good wines, and discuss our adventures in far places; when we are dead, the opportunity is past.

What is an evil man? The man is evil who coerces obedience to his private ends, destroys beauty, produces pain, extinguishes life.

A barbarian is not aware that he is a barbarian.

I understand the gist of your speculation,' said Rhialto. 'It is most likely nuncupatory.

I was a carpenter for a time and everybody watches what you do.

Away from the safety of your home, the universe was not made for your convenience.

No good ever comes of pride, for it is the meanest of mean things, and no one but he who is full of it thinks it grand.

[In the aftermath of death] Small talk feels too small, big talk too enormous.

Let us therefore animate and encourage each other, and show the whole world that a Freeman, contending for liberty on his own ground, is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth.

It is hard to write even the smallest piece of code correctly.

Running away for fear of death, leaving one's dear ones, temples or music to take care of themselves, is irreligion; it is cowardice.

There are so many needs in the world, and our hearts cannot carry them all. You must walk to the priorities God has set before you.

I cannot say that our country could have no secret police without becoming totalitarian, but I can say with great conviction that it cannot become totalitarian without a centralized national police.

Silence is the first thing within the power of the enslaved to shatter. From that shattering, everything else spills forth.

If a psychiatrist would analyze [the lyrics], I'm sure they'd come up with something interesting. I really don't try to twist them. I don't want to slash things.