Like most modern people, I don't believe in prophecy or magic and then spend half my time practicing it.

There ain't no sin and there ain't no virtue. There's just stuff people do.

Strength and success - they are above morality, above criticism. It seems, then, that it is not what you do, but how you do it and what you call it. Is there a check in men, deep in them, that stops or punishes? There doesn't seem to be. The only punishment is for failure. In effect no crime is committed unless a criminal is caught.

A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.

People need responsibility. They resist assuming it, but they cannot get along without it.

Some days are born ugly. From the very first light they are no damn good what ever the weather, and everbody knows it. No one knows what causes this, but on such a day people resist getting out of bed and set their heels against the day. When they are finally forced out by hunger or job they find that the day is just as lousy as they knew it would be.

I'll want to hear,' Samuel said. 'I eat stories like grapes.