Most people are not looking for provable truths. As you said, truth is often accompanied by intense pain, and almost no one is looking for painful truths. What people need is beautiful, comforting stories that make them feel as if their lives have some meaning. Which is where religion comes from.

You don't have to judge the whole world by your own standards. Not everybody is like you, you know.

For a while" is a phrase whose length can't be measured.At least by the person who's waiting.

Your heart is like a great river after a long spell of rain, spilling over its banks. All signposts that once stood on the ground are gone, inundated and carried away by that rush of water. And still the rain beats down on the surface of the river. Every time you see a flood like that on the news you tell yourself: That’s it. That’s my heart.

My shadow is only half of what it should be." "Everyone has their shortcomings.

I contented myself with whiskey, for medicinal purposes. It helped numb my various aches and pains. Not that the alcohol actually reduced the pain; it just gave the pain a life of its own, apart from mine.

I just feel pain. A lot of pain. I thought I could imagine how much this would hurt but I was wrong.