“Words can be used as a bomb or balm.”
“Like the atomic bomb, it’s there; like the bomb, the temptationwill always exist to use it.There can no longer be a worldwithout the atomic bomb; there can no longer be a worldwithout violent movies.”
“Religion is often used as a sword to divide, rather than as a balm to heal.”
“Arboreal, a fine word. Our arboreal ancestors, Crake used to say. Used to shit on their enemies from above while perched in trees. All planes and rockets and bombs are simply elaborations on that primate instinct.”
“The burden of happiness can only be relieved by the balm of suffering.”
“I’m reminded of the old saying that diseases go in through the mouth, disasters come out of the mouth, meaning that words can be like bombs themselves.”