Numberless factors shape one's needs and longings. - William Styron

"I mean, I don't know much about the Civil War, but whenever I think of that time — I mean, ever since Gone With the Wind I've had these fantasies about those generals, those gorgeous young Southern generals with their tawny mustaches and beards, and hair in ringlets, on horseback. And those beautiful girls in crinoline and pantalettes. You would never know that they ever fucked, from all you're able to read." She paused and squeezed my hand. "I mean, doesn't it just do something to you to think of one of those ravishing girls with that crinoline all in a fabulous tangle, and one of those gorgeous young officers — I mean, both of them fucking like crazy?"

"Oh yes," I said with a shiver, "oh yes, it does. It enlarges one's sense of history."

I don’t see any point in trying to equate one evil with another, or to assign some stupid scale of values. They’re both awful! Would

Perhaps, he thought, if I only think of this second, this moment, the train won't come at all. Think of the water, think of now.