“It is impossible to found a civilization on fear and hatred and cruelty. It would never endure.''Why not?''It would have no vitality. It would disintegrate. It would commit suicide.”
“Only optimists commit suicide, optimists who no longer succeed at being optimists. The others, having no reason to live, why would they have any to die?”
“If I had no sense of humor, I would long ago have committed suicide.”
“If youth were not ignorant and timid, civilization would be impossible.”
“I never would have guessed that matches and lighters would be among the things I'd miss the most if civilization collapsed”
“Hatred would have been easier. With hatred, I would have known what to do. Hatred is clear, metallic, one-handed, unwavering; unlike love.”