Status anxiety definitely exists at a political level. Many Iraqis were annoyed with the US essentially for reasons of status: for not showing them respect, for humiliating them.

Cynics are - beneath it all - only idealists with awkwardly high standards.

Forgiveness requires a sense that bad behaviour is a sign of suffering rather than malice.

Unnatural to expect that learning to be happy should be any easier than, say, learning to play the violin or require any less practice.

The largest part of what we call 'personality' is determined by how we've opted to defend ourselves against anxiety and sadness".

Being funny should be an incidental byproduct of trying to get to something truthful, not a destination in itself.

Everyone wants a better life: very few of us want to be better people.