To my mind, a well-developed sense of humor is the surest indication of a person's humanity, no matter how black and bitter that humor may be.

Madness, mayhem, erotic vandalism, devastation of innumerable souls - while we scream and perish, History licks a finger and turns the page.

Look at your body— A painted puppet, a poor toy Of jointed parts ready to collapse, A diseased and suffering thing With a head full of false imaginings. —The Dhammapada

Nonexistence never hurt anyone. Existence hurts everyone.

Most people learn to save themselves by artificially limiting the content of consciousness.

It has always seemed to me that my existence consisted purely and exclusively of nothing but the most outrageous nonsense.

The only value of this world lay in its power - at certain times - to suggest another world.

Officially there are no fates worse than death. Unofficially, there is a profusion of such fates. For some people, just living with the thought that they will die is a fate worse than death itself.

Everything is ultimately peculiar and ultimately ridiculous.

Consciousness has forced us into the paradoxical position of striving to be unself-conscious of what we are - hunks of spoiling flesh on disintegrating bones.

No one gives up on something until it turns on them, whether or not that thing is real or unreal.

The light of compassion opens the petals of the heart. When the petals of the heart unfold fragrance spreads across the valley.

Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.

Commitment separates those who live their dreams from those who live their lives regretting the opportunities they have squandered.

Without the gods, how would I sing?' I asked.With your own voice, ' he said.

Self-observation helps us to refocus within, to balance ourselves and to be in the present moment....

When you begin to expect miracles, Jesus feels insulted.

In the end, I worry that my arrogance shall destroy us all.

I've, we have in this state, like many other states, we're experiencing an enormous budget deficit that we're trying to grapple with. But we will have progress despite the deficits.

Another thing about creation is that every day it is like it gave birth, and it's always kind of innocent and refreshing. So it's always virginal to me, and it's always a surprise.

It is easier to develop great power than it is to know how to use it wisely.