American society [...] not only sanctions gross and unfair relations among men, but it encourages them. Now, can that be denied? No. Rivalry, competition, envy, jealousy, all that is malignant in human character is nourished by the system. Possession, money, property--on such corrupt standards as these do you people measure happiness and success.
Philip RothToo late, but I understand. That we don't perish of understanding everything too late, that is a miracle. But we do perish of that -- of just that.
Philip RothHe is not simply looking into the mirror because he is transfixed by what he sees. Rather, the artistโs success depends as much as anything on his powers of detachment, on de-narcissizing himselfโฆ Freudโฆ studied his own dreams not because he was a โnarcissist,โ but because he was a student of dreams. And whose were at once the least and most accessible of dreams, if not his own?
Philip RothDoctor, I had never had anybody like her in my life, she was the fulfillment of my most lascivious adolescent dreamsโ but marry her, can she be serious? You see, for all her preening and perfumes, she has a very low opinion of herself, and simultaneouslyโ and here is the source of much of our trouble-a ridiculously high opinion of me. And simultaneously, a very low opinion of me! She is one confused Monkey, and, I'm afraid, not too very bright.
Philip Roth