Dierdre Verkamp

“The American essayist William Deresiewicz wrote that "no real excellence, personal or social, artistic, philosophical, scientific, or moral, can arise without solitude.”
― Michael Finkel, The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit

“The friendly relations Belle enjoyed with her neighbors when she first came to La Porte were not fated to last. “No one was a friend of hers,” Louisa Diessl”
― Harold Schechter, Hell's Princess: The Mystery of Belle Gunness, Butcher of Men

“I guess what concerned me most about the small lie was the danger of it becoming a habit. I’ve seen many times over the years how liars get so good at lying, they lose the ability to distinguish between what’s true and what’s not. They surround themselves with other liars. The circle becomes closer and smaller, with those unwilling to surrender their moral compasses pushed out and those willing to tolerate deceit brought closer to the center of power. Perks and access are given to those willing to lie and tolerate lies. This creates a culture, which becomes an entire way of life.”
― James Comey, A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership

“The criminal investigation was not centered on the fact that Secretary Clinton decided to use nongovernmental email to do her work.”
― James Comey, A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership