Ian Gillibrand

“The various modes of worship which prevailed in the Roman world were all considered by the people as equally true; by the philosopher as equally false; and by the magistrate as equally useful.”
― Edward Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

“it is discouraging to leave the past behind only to see it coming toward you like the thunderstorm which drenched you yesterday.”
― William H. Gass, The Tunnel

“Merry Christmas! the man threatened.”
― William Gaddis, The Recognitions

“Civilised life, you know, is based on a huge number of illusions in which we all collaborate willingly. The trouble is we forget after a while that they are illusions and we are deeply shocked when reality is torn down around us.”
― J.G. Ballard