“As if thought were not our most passionate, our most ardent aspect.”

“After sex, after coffee, after everything there is to be said --The hovering and beautiful alphabet as we form our first words after making love.And somehow I'm still alive.”

“You were a painting by Matisse, but you took sleeping pills.”

“How I love them. How good they are. They endure endless hours of me talking about the future. They keep me near and at the same time bid me farewell. That is what real love is.”

“Huddled around the fire of the alphabet...”

“I believe in books.”

“One loves art more than life; it's better than life, don't you think, Ali? It doesn't disappoint so," she sighed. "It's not so frightening," she said, her eyes filled with terror.”