But there are still people whose moral superiority defeats your own.

We have been fortunate enough to live at a time when virtue, though it does not triumph, is nonetheless not always tormented by attack dogs. Beaten down, sickly, virtue has now been allowed to enter in all its tatters and sit in the corner, as long as it doesn't raise its voice.

And keep as few things as possible, so that you don't have to fear for them. Give them up without a struggle-because otherwise the humiliation will poison your heart. They will take them away from you in a fight, and trying to hold onto your property will only leave you with a bloodied mouth ... But by owning things and trembling about their fate aren't you forfeiting the rare opportunity of observing and understanding?

Not death itself, but only the moral preparation for it, holds terrors.

Any fool can bomb a train, but just try sorting out the mess.

You took my freedom away a long time ago and you can't give it back because you haven't got it yourself.

It is within the power of writers and artists to do much more: to defeat the lie!