You begin always knowing nothing. You remain forever an amateur, a first timer.

our job was merely to create the noise that seemed to fascinate them.

The zipper opened all the way down our spines.

Reading a novel after reading semiotic theory was like jogging empty-handed after jogging with hand weights. What exquisite guilt she felt, wickedly enjoying narrative! Madeleine felt safe with a nineteenth century novel. There were going to be people in it. Something was going to happen to them in a place resembling the world. Then too there were lots of weddings in Wharton and Austen. There were all kinds of irresistible gloomy men.

It was something every child knew how to do, maintain a direct and full connection with the world. Somehow you forgot about it as you grew up, and had to learn it again.

it's amazing what you can get used to.

Some cities have fallen into ruin and some are built upon ruins but others contain their own ruins while still growing.