The story of your life is not your life; it's your story.

The first obligation of the writer is to be interesting. To be interesting; not to change the world.

Choosing is existence. To the extent that you don't choose, you don't exist.

Tis e'er the wont of simple folk to prize the deed and o'erlook the motive, and of learned folk to discount the deed and lay open the soul of the doer.

Everyone is necessarily the hero of his own life story.

More history is made by secret handshakes than by battles, bills and proclamations.

My dear fellow,' Burlingame said, 'we sit here on a blind rock careening through space; we are all of us rushing headlong to the grave. Think you the worms will care, when anon they make a meal of you, whether you spent your moment sighing wigless in your chamber, or sacked the golden towns of Montezuma? Lookee, the day's nigh spent; 'tis gone careening into time forever. Not a tale's length past we lined our bowels with dinner, and already they growl for more. We are dying men, Ebenezer: i'faith, there's time for naught but bold resolves!