Kristen

“Any system created by the mind of man can be hacked by the mind of man.”
― Stephen King, Mr. Mercedes

“America is the wealthiest nation on Earth, but its people are mainly poor, and poor Americans are urged to hate themselves. To quote the American humorist Kin Hubbard, “It ain’t no disgrace to be poor, but it might as well be.” It is in fact a crime for an American to be poor, even though America is a nation of poor. Every other nation has folk traditions of men who were poor but extremely wise and virtuous, and therefore more estimable than anyone with power and gold. No such tales are told by the American poor. They mock themselves and glorify their betters. The meanest eating or drinking establishment, owned by a man who is himself poor, is very likely to have a sign on its wall asking this cruel question: “If you’re so smart, why ain’t you rich?” There will also be an American flag no larger than a child’s hand—glued to a lollipop stick and flying from the cash register.”
― Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five

“No one with a distorted view of reality can write good novels, because as we read we measure fictional worlds against the real world. Fiction elaborated out of attitudes we find childish or tiresome in life very soon becomes tiresome.”
― John Gardner, John Gardner on Writing: On Becoming a Novelist, On Writers & Writing, and On Moral Fiction

“Damn it, my language is most controlled, madam,” said Captain Gregg stiffly, “and as for my morals, I can assure you that no woman has ever been the worse in body or pocket for knowing me, and I’d like to know how many mealy-mouthed psalm-singers can say the same. I’ve lived a man’s life and I’m not ashamed of it, but I’ve always tried to tell the truth and shame the devil.”
― R.A. Dick, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir