Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear.

We are not certain, we are never certain. If we were we could reach some conclusions, and we could, at last, make others take us seriously.

How do you put everyone in the pool, so you have the right to dry yourself in the sun?

Basically, at the very bottom of life, which seduces us all, there is only absurdity, and more absurdity. And maybe that's what gives us our joy for living, because the only thing that can defeat absurdity is lucidity.

Still, obviously, one can't be sensible all the time.

What really counted was the possibility of escape, a leap to freedom, out of the implacable ritual, a wild run for it that would give whatever chance for hope there was. Of course, hope meant being cut down on some street corner, as you ran like mad, by a random bullet. But when I really thought it through, nothing was going to allow me such a luxury. Everything was against it; I would just be caught up in the machinery again.

That must be wonderful; I have no idea of what it means.