In philosophy, the principles are more interesting than the examples. In literature, the examples are more interesting than the principles.
The prison is the state writ small.
Death is frightening, and so is Eternal Life.
Posterity--the forlorn child of nineteenth century optimism--grows ever harder to conceive.
Dreams are distorted representations of desire. So are dream- analyses.
You are as happy as you think you are, but not necessarily as miserable as you imagine.