The commentator may be excused for repeating what he has stressed in his own books and lectures, namely that "offensive" is frequently but a synonym for "unusual;" and a great work of art is of course always original, and thus by its very nature should come more or less as a shocking surprise.

A toothache will cost a battle, a drizzle cancel an insurrection.

Caress the detail, the divine detail.

... my mind lay limp in an empty world.

I am sufficiently proud of my knowing something to be modest about my not knowing all.

Dear Jesus, do something.

Curiosity is insubordination in its purest form.