The secret to success in any human endeavor is total concentration.

Earthlings are the great explainers, explaining why this event is structured as it is, telling how other events may be achieved or avoided.

...this is a hard world to be ludicrous in, with so many human beings so reluctant to laugh, so incapable of thought, so eager to believe and snarl and hate.

That’s the attractive thing about war,” said Rosewater. “Absolutely everybody gets a little something.

Here is a les­son in writ­ing. First rule: Do not use semi­colons. They are trans­ves­tite her­maph­ro­dites rep­re­sent­ing absolutely noth­ing. All they do is show you've been to col­lege.

There's only one rule that I know of, babies—God damn it, you've got to be kind.

Cigarettes are a classy way to commit suiside.