In a way, Che Guevara's fate was far worse than Simon Bolivar's. Guevara's collapse was complete: his intentions were forgotten, but his style was taken up by boutique owners (one of the fanciest clothes stores in London is called Che Guevara). There is no faster way of destroying a man or mocking his ideas than making him fashionable. That Che succeeded in influencing dress-designers was part of his tragedy.

The Japanese have perfected good manners and made them indistinguishable from rudeness.

It is usually expensive and lonely to be principled.

Anything is possible on a train: a great meal, a binge, a visit from card players, an intrigue, a good night's sleep, and strangers' monologues framed like Russian short stories.

I think that love isn't what you think it is when you're in your twenties or even thirties.

The measure of civilized behavior is compassion.

There has to be a measure of difficulty or problem-solving in travel for it to be worthwhile.