“Absence diminishes little passions and increases great ones just as the wind blows out a candle and fans a fire.”

“We promise according to our hopes and perform according to our fears.”

“We always love those who admire us and we do not always love those whom we admire.”

“Old men are fond of giving good advice to console themselves for being no longer in a position to give bad examples.”

“We give advice but we do not inspire conduct.”

“Few people know how to be old.”

“But who can remember pain, once its over? All that remains of it is a shadow, not in the mind even, in the flesh. Pain marks you, but too deep to see. Out of sight, out of mind.”

“I know what you are learning to endure. There is nothing to be done. Make sure nothing is wasted. Take notes. Remember it all, every insult, every tear. Tattoo it on the inside of your mind. In lif...”

“My mind, I know, I can prove, hovers on hummingbird wings. It hovers and it churns. And when it's operating at full thrust, the churning does not stop. The machines do not rest, the systems rarely ...”