Every promise we kept, every squeeze of the hand, every secretive smile we exchanged, every crying child we comforted- every one of those moments narrowed the distance between us.

But war had a taming effect

What he wanted to say was that two thousand years of peace could be undone in a month of war.

An entire lifetime can change in one afternoon. The rest of the world can continue on, unaware of a quiet, solitary cataclysm occurring a few feet away.

To be around family is to feel the possibility of growing roots again.

He believes that people have destroyed religion and religion has destroyed people. He says he believes in God, but he doesn't believe in people.

What is gone is gone and will not come back. When the earth swallows, it swallows forever and we are left to stumble along feeling the absences. These are our burdens.

We all cross a hundred peaks to get even this far. And there will be more before we each make it to whatever God has fated for us.

Cornered mothers pray for strange things.

The elderly become invisible sooner than we would hope.

Yes, well, people are very good at destroying things, good things.

The more we love, the more it hurts, and the more we have to let go.

Life is a series of relapses and recoveries.

A nation will rise no higher than the strength of its homes.

Rank is a great beautifier.

As long as people are listening that's all that matters.

Of course art world ethics are important. But museums are no purer than any other institution or business. Academics aren't necessarily more high-minded than gallerists.

Reason also is choice.

The conversation of those who like to lord it over us is very disagreeable. But we should always be ready to graciously acknowledge the truth, no matter in what guise it comes to us.

Hark," he said, his tone very dry. "What stone through yonder window breaks?

I hope everybody's getting smarter.