There is no term comparable to green thumbs to apply to such a mechanic, but there should be. For there are men who can look, listen, tap, make an adjustment, and a machine works.

In the streets of New York between seven and nine in the morning you will see the slow procession of dog and downer proceeding from street to tree to hydrant to trash basket. They are apartment dogs. They are taken out twice a day, and, while it is a cliché, it is truly amazing how owner and dog resemble each other. They grow to walk alike and have the same set of head.

A kind of second childhood falls on so many men. They trade their violence for the promise of a small increase of life span. In effect, the head of the house becomes the youngest child.

He can kill anything for need but he could not even hurt a feeling for pleasure.

The candle aimed its spark of light at heaven, like an artist who consumes himself to become divine.

A man who gets few letters does not open one lightly.

He said, "I am a man," and that meant certain things to Juana. It meant that he was half insane and half god.