My greatest inspiration is memory.

The measure of civilized behavior is compassion.

Although I'm not fluent in sign language by a long way, I could have a fairly decent conversation.

A national crisis, a political convulsion, is an opportunity, a gift to the traveler. Nothing is more revealing of a place to a stranger than trouble. Even if a crisis is incomprehensible, as it usually is, it lends drama to the day and transforms the traveler into an eye witness.

It might be said that a great unstated reason for travel is to find places that exemplify where one has been happiest. Looking for idealised versions of home-indeed, looking for the perfect memory.

I don't think that it's possible to have a truly rewarding experience in travel if it's simple.

Reading liberates you. You could know about the world through reading.