What does he do, Clarice? What is the first and principal thing he does, what need does he serve by killing? He covets. How do we begin to covet? We begin by coveting what we see every day.

You would think such a day would tremble to begin . . .

He moves smoothly and slowly, carrying his concentration like a brimming cup.

Problem-solving is hunting; it is savage pleasure and we are born to it.

I collect church collapses, recreationally. Did you see the recent one in Sicily? Marvelous! The facade fell on sixty-five grandmothers at a special mass. Was that evil? If so, who did it? If he's up there, he just loves it, Officer Starling. Typhoid and swans - it all comes from the same place.

The tragedy is not to die, but to be wasted.

How seldom we recognize the sound when the bolt of our fate slides home.