It shows considerable wisdom to know what you want in life and then to direct all your energies towards getting it.

We are often more merciful to our animals than we are to each other.

Daniel supposed he had a secret life. Most people did; it was hardly possible to live without one.

Time didn't heal, but it anesthetized. The human mind could only feel so much.

Absolute nakedness was intrusive, confusing to the senses. Paradoxically, it both revealed and diminished identity.

gossip ... was like any other commodity in the marketplace. You received it only if you had something of value to give.

Charm is often despised but I can never see why. No one has it who isn't capable of genuinely liking others, at least at the actual moment of meeting and speaking. Charm is always genuine; it may be superficial but it isn't false.