“Never underestimate the human capacity for wishful thinking and willful blindness,' said Miles. Such as a whole society of people who became so wrapped up in avoiding death, they forgot to be alive?”

“The worst is not death but being blind, blind to the fact that everything about life is in the nature of the miraculous. The language of society is conformity; the language of the creative individual is freedom. Life will continue to be a hell as long as people who make up the world shut their eyes to reality.”

“People do not wish to appear foolish; to avoid the appearance of foolishness, they are willing to remain actually fools. ”

“So wise men avoided Usha. The death of her husband ensured that she became inauspicious. The white sari wrapped itself around her shaking body and the lily of her youth wilted before it had even begun to flower.”

“Everybody who is alive is a survivor, and everybody who is dead isn't," I said."So everybody alive must have the Survivor's Syndrome. It's that or death. I am so damn sick of people telling me proudly that they are survivors!”

“So . . . do you?” He persisted.“Yes,” she said finally with a mystified laugh. “I wrap my head in a towel.”He nodded, satisfied. “I thought so.”“Did you ever think about cutting back on the caffeine?”Miles shook his head. “Never.”