The world is full of bastards, the number increasing rapidly the further one gets from Missoula, Montana.

So it is that we can seldom help anybody. Either we don't know what part to give or maybe we don't like to give any part of ourselves. Then, more often than not, the part that is needed is not wanted. And even more often, we do not have the part that is needed.

The world is full of bastards, the number increasing rapidly the further one gets from Missoula, Montana.

It is very important to a lot of people to make unmistakably clear to themselves and to the universe that they love the universe but are not intimidated by it and will not be shaken by it, no matter what it has in store. Moreover, they demand something from themselves early in life that can be taken ever after as a demonstration of this abiding feeling.

I sat there and forgot and forgot, until what remained was the river that went by and I who watched. On the river the heat mirages danced with each other and then they danced through each other and then they joined hands and danced around each other. Eventually the water joined the river, and there was only one of us. I believe it was the river.

If our father had had his way, nobody who did not know how to fish would be allowed to disgrace a fish by catching him.

Many of us would probably be better fishermen if we did not spend so much time watching and waiting for the world to become perfect