“Low comedy, empty heroics and pointless death”

“The bounties of space, of infinite outwardness, were three: empty heroics, low comedy, and pointless death.”

“I asked this heroic pet lover how it felt to have died for a schnauzer named Teddy. Salvador Biagiani was philosophical. He said it sure beat dying for absolutely nothing in the Viet Nam War.”

“No art is possible without a dance with death.”

“Give me knowledge or give me death.”

“He supposed that the intent of the Gospels was to teach people, among other things, to be merciful, even to the lowest of the low. But the Gospels actually taught this: Before you kill somebody, make absolutely sure he isn't well connected. So it goes.”

“What in hell is a girl with hips like yours doing selling death?”