Socratic paradox

The ignorant man is ignorant of the fact that he’s ignorant. The wise man knows that he doesn’t know. And he’s comfortable with that.

The full catastrophe

The real calamity is not that we die but that we are born. There is no school of truth. We are fated to find out the hard way that life has no opposite.

Taming the beast

The next time you’re angry—you know, really fired up—stop dead in your tracks and say these four words with complete conviction: “Right now I’m insane.” The truth will set you free.

At my father’s knee

Or some other low joint. “Let me tell you how it is, son. Let me tell you how the world works.” Oh boy. First, we cling to our toys, then to our opinions.

Beauty

Some women, some men share a vague but persistent sense that the world will be saved by beauty.