Each of us is born with a series of built-in confusions that are probably somehow Darwinian. These are: (1) we're central to the universe (that is, our personal story is the main and most interesting story, the only story, really); (2) we're separate from the universe (there's US and then, out there, all that other junk - dogs and swing-sets, and the State of Nebraska and low-hanging clouds and, you know, other people), and (3) we're permanent (death is real, o.k., sure - for you, but not for me).
George SaundersI do find the values in A Christmas Carol significant. It is important not to be mean and stingy and not to give up love for money.
George SaundersI like [Barak] Obama. I like him. So how far does rationality help to persuade anybody? You know, I'm not so sure.
George SaundersSuccess makes opportunities and so many of those "opportunities" are actually exemptions - from hardship, from unfriendliness, from struggle.
George Saunders