Kafka's evocations are, rather, unconscious and almost sub-archetypal, the little-kid stuff from which myths derive; this is why we tend to call even his weirdest stories nightmarish rather than surreal.

Nothing brings you together like a common enemy.

If you worship power, you will feel weak and afraid, needing ever more power over others to keep the fear at bay.

I knew my limitations and the limitations of the courts I played on, and adjusted thusly. I was at my best in bad conditions.

I read,' I say. 'I study and read. I bet I've read everything you've read. Don't think I haven't. I consume libraries. I wear out spines and ROM drives. I do things like get in a taxi and say, "The library, and step on it.

...the most obvious, ubiquitous, important realities are often the ones that are hardest to see and talk about.

The entire ball game, in terms of both the exam and life, was what you gave attention to vs. what you willed yourself to not.