For self-realization, a rebel demands a strong authority, a worthy opponent, God to his Lucifer.

From what I have seen, I am driven to the conclusion that religion is only good for good people.

Venice, as a city, was a foundling, floating upon the waters like Moses in his basket among the bulrushes.

If one means by style the voice, the irreducible and always recognizable and alive thing, then of course style is really everything.

America is indeed a revelation, though not quite the one that was planned. Given a clean slate, man, it was hoped, would write the future. Instead, he has written his past.

If you want to be your own master ... always be surprised by evil; never anticipate it.

Understanding is often a prelude to forgiveness, but they are not the same, and we often forgive what we cannot understand (seeing nothing else to do) and understand what we cannot pardon.