“It became obvious that you had to be a feminist because it was such a ridiculous state of affairs.”

“The United States tried, by depressing the clutch of diplomacy and downshifting the gearshift lever of rhetoric, to remain neutral, but it became increasingly obvious that the nation was going to get into a war, especially since it was almost 1812.”

“Unrequited love is a ridiculous state, and it makes those in it behave ridiculously.”

“Because subjects like literature and art history have no obvious material pay-off, they tend to attract those who look askance at capitalist notions of utility. The idea of doing something purely for the delight of it has always rattled the grey-bearded guardians of the state. Sheer pointlessness has always been a deeply subversive affair.”

“You usually can't go wrong if you state the obvious.”

“Secrecy is the first essential in affairs of state.”