improve the quality of government decision-making,
“You must have a cigarette. A cigarette is the perfect type of a perfect pleasure. It is exquisite, and it leaves one unsatisfied. What more can one want?”
― The Picture of Dorian Gray
― The Picture of Dorian Gray
“I am a sick man... I am a spiteful man. I am an unpleasant man. I think my liver is diseased. However, I don't know beans about my disease, and I am not sure what is bothering me. I don't treat it and never have, though I respect medicine and doctors. Besides, I am extremely superstitious, let's say sufficiently so to respect medicine. (I am educated enough not to be superstitious, but I am.) No, I refuse to treat it out of spite. You probably will not understand that. Well, but I understand it. Of course I can't explain to you just whom I am annoying in this case by my spite. I am perfectly well aware that I cannot "get even" with the doctors by not consulting them. I know better than anyone that I thereby injure only myself and no one else. But still, if I don't treat it, its is out of spite. My liver is bad, well then-- let it get even worse!”
― Notes from Underground, White Nights, The Dream of a Ridiculous Man, and Selections from The House of the Dead
― Notes from Underground, White Nights, The Dream of a Ridiculous Man, and Selections from The House of the Dead
“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
― Twilight of the Idols
― Twilight of the Idols
“It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
― The Alchemist
― The Alchemist
“When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”
― The Alchemist
― The Alchemist
Gianfranco’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Gianfranco’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
More friends…
Favorite Genres
Polls voted on by Gianfranco
Lists liked by Gianfranco










































