“The problem with elections is that anybody who wants an office badly enough to run for it probably shouldn’t have it. And anybody who does not want an office badly enough to run for it probably shouldn’t have it, either. Government office should be received like a child’s Christmas present, with surprise and delight. Instead it is usually received like a diploma, an anticlimax that never seems worth the struggle to earn it.”

“If somebody wants to run for office, they had better to explain why they want to run for office. Wanting to be a candidate seems, in itself, reason for exclusion.”

“Not bad, not bad. That's one down. Only a million to go.''Right. Thanks, Shark.'I should have known to expect something like that from him.'Now that you've proven yourself I reckon you've earned a go at a very important assignment.''Making tea?''No, I said important. You want to have a crack at it?''All right. That'd be good.''That's the way. Run down the post office and get the mail for us. Key's hanging up in the front office. When you come back, I want you to open it up and sort it into three piles: good stuff, bad stuff, and shit. Off you go.'You bastard, Shark. You bastard. I say that to myself as I trudge away.”

“I feel like I should probably ask you to leave. But I don’t really want you to go. I want you to stay, but I know you shouldn’t.- Hope”

“This is a bad story.”“Sorry. I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have told you.”“No, you should,” I say.“But—”“I don’t want there to be bad stories and me not know them.”

“The kings of Siam are said to have ruined obnoxious countries by presenting them with white elephants that had to be maintained at vast expense. Receiving aid is not just like receiving an elephant but like making love to an elephant; there is no pleasure in it, you run the risk of being crushed and it takes years before you see the results. Aid is twice cursed: it curses him who gives and him who receives.”