Books don't offer real escape, but they can stop a mind scratching itself raw.

... but it is attitude, not years, that condemns one to the ranks of the Undead, or else proffers salvation. In the domain of the young there dwells many an Undead soul. They rush about so, their inner putrefaction is concealed for a few decades, that is all.

Wars are never cured, they just go into remission for a few years.

False modesty can be worse than arrogance.

I...asked why purebloods despised me so. He replied, 'What if the difference between social strata stem not from genomics or inherent xcellence or even dollars, but merely differences in knowledge? Would this not mean the whole Pyramid is built on shifting sands?... fabricants are mirrors held up to purebloods' consciences; what purebloods see reflected there sickens them. So they blame you for holding up the mirror

Writing is probably one-fifth coming up with the stuff, and four-fifths self-editing again and again and again.

clocks in disagreement are worse than no clock at all.