Most children would rather preserve the fantasy of a loving connection with their fathers and mothers, at all costs, even if it costs them their self-esteem. When you're three or seven years old, it's less frightening to think of yourself as an unlovable, disappointing screwup than to recognize the fact that you're living with a monster.

Plenty of people who survive tragedies end up ambivalent about danger--frightened by it, yet strangely drawn to it.

The truth will set you free. Unless you're guilty.

A jealous husband is an ugly thing.

The roots of any evil deed can be traced to the perpetrator's refusal to experience pain.

For a psychiatrist to be any good, he has to be willing to corner you, close off the easy exits, even when it hurts. It's supposed to. (46)

But that's the hardest part of healing.' What?' Realizing there's no one to hate.