I would like to explain that I consider prayer above all an act of gratitude for existence.

Towards the end of your life you have something like a pain schedule to fill out - a long schedule like a federal document, only it's your pain schedule. Endless categories. First, physical causes - like arthritis, gallstones, menstrual cramps. New category, injured vanity, betrayal, swindle, injustice. But the hardest items of all have to do with love. The question then is: So why does everybody persist? If love cuts them up so much.

Unexpected intrusions of beauty. This is what life is.

Hapiness can only be found if you can free yourself of all other distractions.

The hour that burst the spirit's sleep.

In every community there is a class of people profoundly dangerous to the rest. I don't mean the criminals. For them we have punitive sanctions. I mean the leaders. Invariably the most dangerous people seek the power. While in the parlors of indignation the right-thinking citizen brings his heart to a boil. (p. 51)

To tell the truth I never had it so good. But I lacked the strength of character to bear such joy.