To these people, unhappiness was a condition, an intolerable state of affairs. If pills could help, pills were taken. But pills were not going to change the fundamental problem in the construction. Wanting what you can´t have. Looking for self-worth in the mirror. Layering work on top of work and still wondering why you weren´t satisfied - before working some more.

You're not going to fix things by helping 65-year-olds or 75-year-olds for any long run.

You've lived through a lot of wars, I said. "Yes." Do they ever make more sense? "No.

when he smiles it's as if you'd just told him the first joke on earth.

the words people do not speak are louder than the ones they do.

Accept what you are able to do and what you are not able to do. Accept the past as past, without denying it or discarding it. Learn to forgive yourself and to forgive others. Don't assume that it's too late to get involved.

Be compassionate," Morrie whispered. And take responsibility for each other. If we only learned those lessons, this world would be so much better a place." He took a breath, then added his mantra: "Love each other or die.