Staring into the dragon's maw, one quickly learns wisdom.

True heroics must be carefully planned - and strenuously avoided.

Everybody generalizes from one example. At least, I do.

The struggle is always worthwhile, if the end be worthwhile and the means honorable; foreknowledge of defeat is not sufficient reason to withdraw from the contest.

You can't put something together again unless you've torn it apart first.

The novel should be understood as a structure built to accommodate the greatest possible amount of cool stuff.

Appropriate action means to advance your own goals, without unintentional harm to anyone else.