The arrogance that says analysing the relationship between reasons and causes is more important than writing a philosophy of shyness or sadness or friendship drives me nuts. I can't accept that.

Never too late to learn some embarrassingly basic, stupidly obvious things about oneself.

What kills us isn't one big thing, but thousands of tiny obligations we can't turn down for fear of disappointing others.

We fall in love because we long to escape from ourselves with someone as beautiful, intelligent, and witty as we are ugly, stupid, and dull. But what if such a perfect being should one day turn around and decide they will love us back? We can only be somewhat shocked-how can they be as wonderful as we had hoped when they have the bad taste to approve of someone like us?

Serious journalists often imagine society is adrift because people don't know certain things. Yet often, they know but just don't care. So the task of serious journalism isn't just to lay out truths. It is to make vital truths compelling to a big audience.

What is fascinating about marriage is why anyone wants to get married.

You normally have to be bashed about a bit by life to see the point of daffodils, sunsets and uneventful nice days.