This is one of the miracles of love: It gives a power of seeing through its own enchantments and yet not being disenchanted. A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you're looking down, you can't see something that's above you. A man with an obsession is a man who has very little sales resistance. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art...it has no survival value; rather, it is one of those things that give value to survival. Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives. Telling us to obey instinct is like telling us to obey "people." People say different things: so do instincts. Our instincts are at war.... Each instinct, if you listen to it, will claim to be gratified at the expense of the rest.... Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up save in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket--safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable. | 
