“When a man cannot choose, he ceases to be a man.”

“Goodness is something chosen. When a man cannot choose he ceases to be a man.”

“The essential intention is the real sin. A man who cannot choose ceases to be a man.”

“Does God want goodness or the choice of goodness? Is a man who chooses to be bad perhaps in some way better than a man who has the good imposed upon him?”

“It may not be nice to be good, little 6655321. It may be horrible to be good. And when I say that to you I realize how self-contradictory that sounds. I know I shall have many sleepless nights about this. What does God want? Does God want goodness or the choice of goodness? Is a man who chooses the bad perhaps in some way better than a man who has the good imposed upon him? Deep and hard questions, little 6655321.”

“Art is dangerous. It is one of the attractions, when it ceases to be dangerous you don't want it.”

“Life's only choosing when to die. Life's a big postponement because the choice is so difficult. It's a tremendous relief not to have to choose.”