By the age of eighteen, a human has acquired enough joy and heartache to provide the food of reflection for a century.

In writing, fidelity to fact leads eventually to the poetry of truth.

The real work of men was hunting meat. The invention of agriculture was a giant step in the wrong direction, leading to serfdom, cities, and empire. From a race of hunters, artists, warriors, and tamers of horses, we degraded ourselves to what we are now: clerks, functionaries, laborers, entertainers, processors of information.

Once upon a time, I dreamed of becoming a great man. Later, a good man. Now, finally, I find it difficult enough and honor enough to be -- a man.

Why administrators are respected and schoolteachers are not: An administrator is paid a lot for doing very little, while a teacher is paid very little for doing a lot.

All power rests on hierarchy: An army is nothing but a well-organized lynch mob.

Life is too short for grief. Or regret. Or bullshit.