Mythology is like gravity, inconvenient at times, but necessary for cohesion.

those who despair of life are not long for it.

Growing up human is uniquely a matter of social relations rather than biology. What we learn from connections within the family takes the place of instincts that program the behavior of animals; which raises the question, how good are these connections?

Creeds and causal systems have argued with each other for millennia, and even so we and our ancestors have managed to live in a world of differing opinions. Philosophical disputes don't often affect the price of fish or wine.

Though we do not have many poets, we certainly have more than we deserve, for we deserve none at all. It is ourselves that we are hurting by our stupidity and ignorance of poetry.

We are in a double bind. We are expected to feel inferior not only as women, but because we are old.

Whatever class and race divergences exist, top cats are tom cats.