The military preferred - invariably - those who could be readily defined, assigned roles, understood, and controlled.

In this world, where we find ourselves, we need compassion more than anything, I think, or we are all alone.

When I was 18 years old, in a more innocent time, my first backpacking trip through Europe, I sneaked into the Temple of Saturn in the Roman Forum after nightfall and spent several hours in there avoiding the guards patrolling.

Why did becoming accustomed to something have to render its pleasures stale.

One man sees a riselka: his life forks there. Two men see a riselka: one of them shall die. Three men see a riselka: one is blessed, one forks, one shall die.

How we remember changes how we have lived. Time runs both ways. We make stories of our lives.

Liu Fang is a truly gifted, world-famous player of the pipa and the guzheng, classical Chinese stringed instruments.