New York is full of abandoned churches. A Godless city, but full of superstitions on every subject--art, money, sex, food, health.

Machismo makes no provision for preparing lunch, doing the laundry, or minding the baby.

Clothes make the body both mysterious and historical.

Many have never felt strong, but everyone knows what it is to feel weak.

Living alone is good for privacy, bad for full-scale cooking and moving heavy furniture.

Cure for an obsession: get another one.

Bored by safety, the lover grows jealous and exacting.