"Man is born as a freak of nature, being within nature and yet transcending it. He has to find principles of action and decision-making which replace the principles of instincts. He has to have a frame of orientation which permits him to organize a consistent picture of the world as a condition for consistent actions. He has to fight not only against the dangers of dying, starving, and being hurt, but also against another danger which is specifically human: that of becoming insane. In other words, he has to protect himself not only against the danger of losing his life but also against the danger of losing his mind."

"Maybe this was why gods stayed on another plane of existence. If they stayed here in the mortal world, their followers would be too tempted to punch them in the face."

"I know that when I look at today’s Mexicans and Central Americans, they seem to me fundamentally the same as my grandparents seeking a better life in America. On the other side, however, open immigrat…"

"It has no sense and cannot just unless it comes to terms with death.Mine as that of the other. Between life and death, then, this is indeed the place of a sententious injunction that always feigns to …"

"I worked the rowdies and daytrippersNow and then I think of youAny which way we're all shufflin'Forward in the queueThey'd like to move my operationThey'd like to get me off the pierAnd I dream I'm on…"