I learnt to stop fantasising about the perfect job or the perfect relationship because that can actually be an excuse for not living.

One rarely falls in love without being as much attracted to what is interestingly wrong with someone as what is objectively healthy.

The desire for high status is never stronger than in situations where "ordinary" life fails to answer a median need for dignity and comfort.

Gaffe-focused journalism: revenge of intelligent people who know true evils are out there but lack the access/time to get to them.

Distress at losing an object can be as much a frustration at the intellectual mystery of the disappearance as about the loss itself.

Bitterness: anger that forgot where it came from.

Curiosity takes ignorance seriously - and is confident enough to admit when it's in the dark. It is aware of not knowing. And then it sets out to do something about it.