All dramatic realism is somewhat sadistic; an audience is persuaded to watch something that makes it uncomfortable and from which no relief is offered - no laughter, no tears, no purgation.

We all live in suspense, from day to day, from hour to hour; in other words, we are the hero of our own story.

Modern neurosis began with the discoveries of Copernicus. Science made men feel small by showing him that the earth was not the center of the universe.

Every age has a keyhole to which its eye is pasted.

Understanding is often a prelude to forgiveness, but they are not the same, and we often forgive what we cannot understand (seeing nothing else to do) and understand what we cannot pardon.

Every word she writes is a lie, including "and" and "the."

Bureaucracy, the rule of no one, has become the modern form of despotism.

If someone tells you he is going to make a 'realistic decision', you immediately understand that he has resolved to do something bad.

For self-realization, a rebel demands a strong authority, a worthy opponent, God to his Lucifer.

We are the hero of our own story.

Liberty, as it is conceived by current opinion, has nothing inherent about it; it is a sort of gift or trust bestowed on the individual by the state pending good behavior.

In a good play, everyone is in the right.

And I always found that the harder I worked, the better my luck was, because I was prepared for that.

You need a string of successes behind you to buoy that self-image; otherwise, you have a terribly negative attitude about yourself and it is very unlikely you are going to succeed at anything.

With reason did the Most Holy Virgin predict that all generations would call her blessed, for all the Elect obtain eternal salvation through the means of Mary.

It has always pleased me to read while eating if I have no companion; it gives me the society I lack. I devour alternately a page and a mouthful; it is as though my book were dining with me.

Like books, the Internet has saved my life. It helped me recognize that so many people I adore suffer from the same things I do.

No sauce equals appetite.

Happiness is an enemy. It weakens you. Suddenly, you have something to lose.

Bills are simply invoices for blessings you've already received. Pay them with gratitude and circulate prosperity.

Loyalism, or Unionism, or Protestantism, or whatever you want to call it, in Northern Ireland - it operates not as a class system, but a caste system.