88 Quotes by Joseph Epstein

We use books like mirrors, gazing into them only to discover ourselves.

In recompense, envy may be the subtlest - perhaps I should say the most insidious - of the seven deadly sins.

Culture means, I think, that you have widened your experience enough through reading and through being a little bit thoughtful about these things that it has changed your outlook in some ways. And not necessarily made you a better human being but made you see things.

What all great teachers appear to have in common is love of their subject, an obvious satisfaction in rousing this love in their students, and an ability to convince them that what they are being taught is deadly serious

One serious drawback about letters is that, in order to get them, one must send some out. When it comes to the mail, I feel it is better to receive than to give.

Courage is nine-tenths context. What is courageous in one setting can be foolhardy in another and even cowardly in a third.

The reason 'closure' is a cliche is that it is used too often, too imprecisely, and doesn't in any case reflect reality. In reality, such closure in broken friendships and much else in life is rarely achieved; only death brings closure and then not always for those still living.

The pleasure of jogging and running is rather like that of wearing a fur coat in Texas in August: the true joy comes in being able to take the damn thing off.

Envy is never general, but always very particular - at least envy of the kind one feels strongly.