We think of death and loss as tragic twins, but in fact it is loss that hurts us.

Start a conversation with someone with whom you have "nothing in common" and no possibility of scoring with, networking with, or even seeing again. In other words, a conversation just for the civilized hell of it.

Sports (and the often barely withheld violence around them) have become one of the few modern ways to connect with strangers. They give an amazing number of geeks things to talk about. In the old days we settled for, "Hello, how are you?

Falling in love with another man is like falling into a vast vat of yourself. For some men this is ultimately nourishing, for others . . . it is drowning.

The most beautiful man in the world says everything with his eyes, and the rest with his hands and mouth.

There are two things in life that money cannot buy: health and happiness. Aside from that, it does an excellent job.

The most amazing thing about young men is how invisible they were to you when you were young. It is also the most poignant.