Henry James was our master of periphrasis -- the fine art of saying as little as possible in the greatest number of words.

I would not sacrifice a single living mesquite tree for any book ever written. One square mile of living desert is worth a hundred 'great books' - and one brave deed is worth a thousand.

An economic system which can only expand or expire must be false to all that is human.

most of my wandering in the desert i've done alone. not so much from choice as from necessity - i generally prefer to go into places where no one else wants to go. i find that in contemplating the natural world my pleasure is greater if there are not too many others contemplating it with me, at the same time.

I am an enemy of the State. But isn't everyone?

This world may be only illusion -- but it's the only illusion we've got.

It is not death or dying that is tragic, but rather to have existed without fully participating in life- that is the deepest personal tragedy.