“People want to believe bad things, I tell myself, glaring around at my classroom. They want to believe the most shocking story. They see you as the worst version of yourself.”
“I will tell you another thing that would be better, and that is, if I myself believe even an iota of what I have just written. I swear to you, gentlemen, that I do not really believe one thing, not even one word, of what I have just written. That is, I believe it, perhaps, but at the same time, I feel suspect that I am lying myself blue in the face.”
“I'll pretend, I tell myself. Pretending is safer than believing.”
“I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me.”
“And oh I want so much to sing, I tell myself no. But it is so hard to keep from singing.”