Alexa’s Reviews > East of Eden > Status Update

…Adam, the most rigidly honest man it was possible to find, living all his life on stolen money. … now this second will, and Aron, the most rigidly honest man a little on the self-indulgent side, living all his life on the profits from a whorehouse. Was this some kind of joke or did things balance so that if one went too far in one direction an automatic slide moved on the scale and balance was re-established?

Alf sniffed. He hardly ever believed anything simple or good about anybody. You could say good morning to Alf and he’d work it around to a password. He was convinced that everyone lived secretly and that only he could see through them.

Don’t you dare take the lazy way. It’s too easy to excuse yourself because of your ancestry… Whatever you do, it will be you who do it - not your mother.

…I know that sometimes a lie is used in kindness. I don’t believe it ever works kindly. The quick pain of truth can pass away, but the slow, eating agony of a lie is never lost. That’s a running sore.