A culture-bearing book, like a mule, bears the culture on its back. No one should sit down to write one deliberately. Culture-bearing books appear almost accidentally, like a sudden surge in the stock market. There are books of high quality that are a part of the culture, but that is not the same. They are a part of it. They aren't carrying it anywhere. They may talk about insanity sympathetically, for example, because that's the standard cultural attitude. But they don't carry any suggestion that insanity might be something other than sickness or degeneracy.
Robert M. PirsigThe intelligence of the mind can't think of any reason to live, but it goes on anyway because the intelligence of the cells can't think of any reason to die.
Robert M. PirsigYou go up the mountaintop and all you're gonna get is a great big heavy stone tablet handed to you with a bunch of rules on it.
Robert M. PirsigThe ultimate test's always your own serenity. If you don't have this when you start and maintain it while you're working you're likely to build your personal problems right into the machine itself.
Robert M. PirsigA person filled with gumption doesnโt sit about stewing about things. Heโs at the front of the train of his own awareness, watching to see whatโs up the track and meeting it when it comes. Thatโs gumption. If youโre going to repair a motorcycle, an adequate supply of gumption is the first and most important tool. If you havenโt got that you might as well gather up all the other tools and put them away, because they wonโt do you any good.
Robert M. Pirsig