“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
— Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
— Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
“Humor is what happens when we’re told the truth quicker and more directly than we’re used to.”
— George Saunders, The Braindead Megaphone
“How can I be reasonable? To me our love was everything and you were my whole life. It is not very pleasant to realize that to you it was only an episode.”
— W. Somerset Maugham, The Painted Veil
“His lechery was sincere. His pretentiousness was sincere. He stood just this side of ridicule with feisty, daunting poise. One had to admire that, she thought.”
—Irini Spanidou, Before
“‘The Law is a grim, unsmiling thing. Not Justice, though. Justice is witty and whimsical and kind and caring.’”
— Rohinton Mistry, A Fine Balance
“She could be no more than fourteen, and the harsh makeup on her face gave off a patina of false ripeness like wax on an early-picked fruit.”
—Irini Spanidou, Before
“Let me tell you, that idiot ex-cocaine-addict was never a cowboy. He can wear all the cowboy hats he wants. He’s a spoiled brat to the manor born. And he makes me puke.”
—Elizabeth Strout, Olive Kitteridge