“You don't have to make something that people call art. Living is an artistic activity, there is an art to getting through the day.”

“Be kind. It's worthwhile to make an effort to learn about other people and figure out what you might have in common with them.”

“1.WE'VE LEFT SHORE SOMEHOWBECOME THE FRIENDS OF EARLY THEORYCLOSE ENOUGH TO SPEAKDESIRE AND PAIN OF ABSENCEOF MISTAKES WE'D MAKEGIVEN THE CHANCE. EACH SMILE RETURNED MAKES HARDER AVOIDINGDREAMS THAT SEE USLYING IN EARLY EVENINGCURTAIN SHADOWS, SKINSAFE AGAINST SKIN.BLOOM OF COMPASSIONRESPECT FOR MOMENTSEYES LOCK TURNSFOREVER INTO ONE MORE VEIL THAT FALLS AWAY. 2.THIS AFTER SEEING YOULAST NIGHT, FIRST TIMESMELLING YOU WITH PERMISSION: SHOULDERS TOWONDER OPENLY ATAS CAREFULLY KISSEDAS THOSE ARMSWAITED IMPOSSIBLY ON.THEY'VE HELD ME NOW AND YOUR BREATH DOWN MY BACKSENT AWAY NIGHT AIRTHAT HAD ME SHAKINGIN THE UNLIT ANGLICANDOORWAY. 3.ARE WE RUINED FOR FINDING OUR FACES FITAND WANT TO KNOW MOREABOUT MORNING? ISFRIENDSHIP CANCELLEDIF WE CAN'T CALLEACH OTHER ANYMORE IN AMNESIA, INVITEOURSELVES TO LAST GLANCESUNDER SUSPICIOUS CLOCKSTELLING US WHEN WE'VE HAD ENOUGH? 4.YOUR STEADY HANDSCRADLING MY GRATEFULSKULL: WERE YOU TAKING IN MY FACE TOSAVE AN IMAGEYOU'VE RARELY ALLOWEDYOURSELF AFTER LEAVINGTHAT COLD ALCOVE?AM I A PHOTOGRAPH YOU GAZE AT IN MOMENTS OF WEAKNESS? YOU ORDERED MEOFF MY KNEESINTO YOUR ARMS.WASN'T TO BEGTHAT I KNELT; ONLYTO SEE YOU ONCE FROM BELOW. TRIED TO SAY SOMETHING THAT FILLED MY MOUTHAND LONGED TO RESTIN YOUR EAR.DON'T DARE WRITE IT DOWN FOR FEAR IT'LL BECOME WORDS, JUST WORDS.”

“If you daren't enter the forest, or cannot find it, then perhaps you might find one tree, or a place where a tree could be, and just stop for a quiet moment to see what happens.”

“Can you join, ask sincerely for affectionwithout sweaty hand of expectation,understanding and acceptingif it never is given?”

“Bashir paused to watch a live CNN feed... Bashir was struck silent by the images of wailing Iraqi women carrying children's bodies out of the rubble of a bombed building.As he studied the screen, Bashir's bullish shoulders slumped. "People like me are America's best friends in the region," Bashir said at last shaking his head ruefully, "I'm a moderate Msulim, an educated man. But watching this, even I could become a jihadi. How can Americans say they are making themselves safer?" Bashir asked, struggling not to direct his anger toward the large American target on the other side of the desk. "Your president Bush had done a wonderful job of uniting one billion Muslims against America for the next two hundred years.”

“A nation that fails to recognize and appreciate history is destined for decay.”