Cain S.

“True friendship withstands time, distance, and silence.”
― Isabel Allende

“[O]ur 'inferiors,' who love us...take pleasure in wounding us in our self-esteem.”
― Marcel Proust, The Captive / The Fugitive

“Perhaps we would not be human if the quality of our lives were much better than it is. It does not follow that the quality of human life is good.”
― David Benatar, The Human Predicament: A Candid Guide to Life's Biggest Questions

“Professionals who've spent their energy teaching masterpieces, the few of us still engrossed by literature's scrutiny of things, have no excuse for finding betrayal anywhere but at the heart of history. History from top to bottom. World history, family history, personal history. It's a very big subject, betrayal. Just think of the Bible. What's that book about? The master story situation of the Bible is betrayal. Adam—betrayed. Esau—betrayed. The Shechemite—betrayed. Judah—betrayed. Joseph—betrayed. Moses—betrayed. Samson—betrayed. Samuel—betrayed. David—betrayed. Uriah—betrayed. Job—betrayed. Job betrayed by whom? By none other than God himself. And don't forget the betrayal of God. God betrayed. Betrayed by our ancestors at every turn.”
― Philip Roth, I Married a Communist