Since the world has changed so much, the same values don't lead to the same choices anymore.

Brod discovered 613 sadnesses, each perfectly unique, each a singular emotion, no more similar to any other sadness than to anger, ecstasy, guilt, or frustration. Mirror Sadness. Sadness of Domesticated Birds. Sadness of Being Sad in front of One's Parent. Humor Sadness. Sadness of Love Without Release.

I have no need for the past, I thought, like a child. I did not consider that the past might have a need for me.

I used to think that humor was the only way to appreciate how wonderful and terrible the world is, to celebrate how big life is. But now I think the opposite. Humor is a way of shrinking from that wonderful and terrible world.

But I knew the truth and that's why I was so sad. Every moment before this one depends on this one. Everything in the history of the world can be proven wrong in one moment.

The images of his infinite pasts and infinite futures washed over him as he waited, paralyzed, in the present.

Yesterday I wanted to turn inside out.