What’s so phony nowadays is all this familiarity. Pretending there isn’t any difference between people — well, like you were saying about minorities,… - Christopher Isherwood

They saw themselves as rear-guard individualists, making a last-ditch stand against the twentieth century. They gave thanks loudly from morn till eve that they had escaped the soul
destroying commercialism of the city. They were tacky and cheerful and defiantly bohemian, tirelessly inquisitive about each other's doings, and boundlessly tolerant. When they fought, at least it was with fists and bottles and furniture, not lawyers.

I am alive, he says to himself, I am alive! And life energy surges hotly through him, and delight, and appetite. How good to be in a body - even this old beat-up carcass - that still has warm blood and live semen and rich marrow and wholesome flesh!

'You know, sometimes I wonder what all this is for. Why not just peacefully end it?'
'We all think that. But we don't do it.'
'Surely you're not fool enough to imagine there's anything afterwards?'
'Perhaps. No, I suppose not. I don't think it makes much difference.'