In addition I wanted to write a Southern novel, because I'm a Southerner.

If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.

True character arises from a deeper well than religion. It is the internalization of moral principles of a society, augmented by those tenets personally chosen by the individual, strong enough to endure through trials of solitude and adversity. The principles are fitted together into what we call integrity, literally the integrated self, wherein personal decisions feel good and true. Character is in turn the enduring source of virtue. It stands by itself and excites admiration in others.

From the freedom to explore comes the joy of learning. From knowledge acquired by personal initiative arises the desire for more knowledge. And from mastery of the novel and beautiful world awaiting every child comes self-confidence.

Ants are the leading removers of dead creatures on the land. And the rest of life is substantially dependent upon them.

Only in the last moment in history has the delusion arisen that people can flourish apart from the rest of the living world.

The beginning of wisdom, as the Chinese say, is calling things by their right names.