Violet wells

“It is a tragicomic fact that our proper upbringing has become an ally of the secret police. We do not know how to lie. The Tell the truth! imperative drummed into us by our mamas and papas functions so automatically that we feel ashamed of lying even to a secret policeman during an interrogation. It is simpler for us to argue with him or insult him (which makes no sense whatever) than to lie to his face (which is the only thing to do).”
― Milan Kundera, The Unbearable Lightness of Being

“Venice can wash through you all the memories you have never made.”
― glenn haybittle, The Way Back to Florence

“Venice is a Dorian Gray city. Somewhere up there in the world's attic, there's another place with the haggard, poxed and ravaged face of unspeakable evil. And I suspect it's Cardiff.”
― A.A. Gill, Table Talk

“Do we ever give anyone the gift they actually want?”
― Michael Cunningham, By Nightfall