Emotions, in my experience aren't covered by single words. I don't believe in "sadness," "joy," or "regret." I'd like to have at my disposal complicated hybrid emotions, Germanic traincar constructions like, say, "the happiness that attends disaster." Or: "the disappointment of sleeping with one's fantasy." ... I'd like to have a word for "the sadness inspired by failing restaurants" as well as for "the excitement of getting a room with a minibar." I've never had the right words to describe my life.

I always work in a room where there's no Internet to keep from being distracted so easily.

All wisdom ends in paradox.

that since Cecilia’s suicide, the Lisbon’s could hardly wait for the night to forget themselves in sleep

He had the feeling that there was something physically behind his eyes, blocking the light.

There is a small window of opportunity for freckled girls to tan.

She had given birth to me and nursed me and brought me up. She had known me before I knew myself and now she had no say in the matter. Life started out one thing and then suddenly turned a corner and became something else.