"Ooh," she said. A pause, then, "Is it sacred?" "No, it's nicotine," I answered, "a very ersatz form of divinity." - Roger Zelazny

Cute," she said, smiling. "If the liberal arts do nothing else they provide engaging metaphors for the thinking they displace.

You leap too quickly to his defense. It reveals his true attitude, of which he has doubtless made you aware.

Dwelling beside a body of water is tonic for the weary psyche. Sea smells, sea birds, seawrack, sands—alternately cool, warm, moist and dry—a taste of brine and the presence of the rocking, slopping bluegraygreen spit-flecked waters, has the effect of rinsing the emotions, bathing the outlook, bleaching the conscience.