Suicidal glory is the luxury of the irresponsible.

There is a sad disconnectedness that overcomes a library when its owner is gone.

It’s a . . . transcendental act. Making life. . . . ‘By this act, I bring one death into the world.’ One birth, one death, and all the pain and acts of will between. . . . Our children change us . . . whether they live or not.

Egalitarians adjust to aristocracies just fine, as long as they get to be the aristocrats.