When we accept small wonders, we qualify ourselves to imagine great wonders.

Western civilization was declining too fast for comfort, but too slowly to be very exciting.

Religion is nothing but institutionalized mysticism. The catch is, mysticism does not lend itself to institutionalization. The moment we attempt to organize mysticism, we destroy its essence. Religion, then, is mysticism in which the mystical has been killed. Or, at least diminished.

Brilliantly, ecstatically, irrepressibly. This is the way to burn

All depression has its roots in self-pity, and all self-pity is rooted in people taking themselves too seriously.

On their sofas of spice and feathers, the concubines also slept fretfully. In those days the Earth was still flat, and people dreamed often of falling over edges.

It is more important to be free than to be happy.