In the silence I heard Bastet, who had retreated under the bed, carrying on a mumbling, profane monologue. (If you ask how I knew it was profane, I presume you have never owned a cat.)
Exaggeration is the cheapest form of humor.
His masculinity was only too apparent
love has a very dulling effect on the brain
Noble causes have a deplorable effect on the morals of the persons who espouse them.
Loving someone condemns you to a lifetime of fear. You become painfully conscious of how fragile people are - bundles of brittle bones and vulnerable flesh, breeding grounds for billions of deadly germs and horrible diseases.