“Self pity is the glue that binds you to your past...”

“Fundamentalism's strident denunciation of its opponents is a sign of its weakness, its dogmatic authoritarianism is a pathological mutation of faith.”

“...when the bullets fly and sundry erratic fragments of shell are seekinga fellowʼs life, and he has to lay low in the pits to keep his light from being snuffedout, then is a good opportunity to reckon up and balance accounts with the worldin general and a fellowʼs near relatives and family in particular. Many, many,many a time have I thought of the careless word or deed never recalled, oramended, and during those midnight hours would I have given almost life itself tohave the opportunity of making amends for them. Not through fear of what isbeyond this life, but in order that after my flesh had turned to dust, and my bonesto traces of white lime, those that knew me in life could say, “Charlie is gone, andthough his life was full of inconsistencies, still he was a good hearted fellow, andif he did not amount to much as man, still he done no one any harm.” Charlie Biddlecom January 22, 1865”

“It is not only species of animal that die out, but whole species of feeling. And if you are wise you will never pity the past for what it did not know, but pity yourself for what it did.”

“We lay on the ground and kissed. Perhaps you smile. That we only lay on the ground and kissed. You young people can lend your bodies now, play with them, give them as we could not. But remember that you have paid a price: that of a world rich in mystery and delicate emotion. It is not only species of animal that die out. But whole species of feeling. And if you are wise you will never pity the past for what it did not know. But pity yourself for what it did.”

“you say you don’t want pity, but your very existence depends upon it.”

“I particularly scorn my fondness for paradox. I despise pessimism, narcissism, solipsism, truculence, word-play, and pusillanimity, my chiefer inclinations; loathe self-loathers ergo me; have no pity for self-pity and so am free of that sweet baseness. I doubt I am. Being me’s no joke.”