“If you want one thing too much it’s likely to be a disappointment. The healthy way is to learn to like the everyday things, like soft beds and buttermilk—and feisty gentlemen.”

“Lorie darlin', life in San Francisco, you see, is still just life. If you want any one thing too badly, it's likely to turn out to be a disappointment. The only healthy way to live life is to learn to like all the little everyday things, like a sip of good whiskey in the evening, a soft bed, a glass of buttermilk, or a feisty gentleman like myself.”

“It’s just that I learned a while ago that the best way to get people to like you is not to like them too much.”

“I think people still want to like Barack Obama but are a little puzzled and even, sometimes, disappointed to discover that actually, all things considered, they don't really like him quite as much as they would like to.”

“You’re speechless.” He chuckled. “I like that. And I also like you all feisty. Want to hit me again?”

“I like you, but not too much. I don’t want to like anybody too much.”