Everything has boundaries. the same holds true with thought. you shouldn't fear boundaries, but you also should not be afraid of destroying them. that's what is most important if you want to be free: respect for and exasperation with boundaries. what's really important in life is always the things that are secondary.

Killing time is not an easy job.

If you can love someone with your whole heart, even one person, then there's salvation in life. Even if you can't get together with that person.

If you want to talk about something new, you have to make up a new kind of language.

Don't let thoughts of me hold you back. Just do what you want to do. Otherwise, I might end up taking you with me, and that is the one thing I don't want to do. I don't want to interfere with your life.

This is no honky-tonk parade. 1Q84 is the real world, where a cut draws real blood, where pain is real pain and fear is real fear. The moon in the sky is no paper moon.

Maybe working on the little things as dutifully and honestly as we can is how we stay sane when the world is falling apart.