our deeds have even less substance than we ourselves.

It is possible to wish so greatly for the unattained that in time you believe it has been won - indeed, you can even remember the winning of it.

one pities most those who loved, and still died. Only those who love, dread death.

... the world was beautiful, but nobody looked at it except tourists. ... a kind of perfection of existence was always close at hand, and no one reached for it.

things never seem as bad as they are.

it's been my experience that while impossible things happen frequently, improbable ones never do.

the Empire State Building was tall. So what? Just proved New York builders didn't know when to stop at a good story.