David Foster Wallace
- E Unibus Pluram: Television and U.S. Fiction
Fiction writers as a species tend to be oglers. They tend to lurk and to stare. The minute fiction writers stop moving, they start lurking, and stare. They are born watchers. They are viewers. They are the ones on the subway about whose nonchalant stare there is something creepy, somehow. Almost predatory. This is because human situations are writers' food. Fiction writers watch other humans sort of the way gapers slow down for car wrecks: they covet a version of themselves as witnesses.
Harry Frankfurt
- On BS
In the old days, craftsmen did not cut corners. They worked carefully, and they took care with every aspect of their work. Every part of the product was considered, and each was designed and made to be exactly as it should be. These craftsmen did not relax their thoughtful self-discipline even with respect to features of their work which would ordinarily not be visible. Although no one would notice if those features were not quite right, the craftsmen would be bothered by their consciences.
Harry Frankfurt
- On BS
Someone who lies about how much money he has in his pocket both gives an account of the amount of money in his pocket and conveys that he believes this account. If the lie works, then its victim is twice deceived, having one false belief about what is in the liar's pocket and another false belief about what is in the liar's mind.
Anna Seghers
- Transit
Below me lay the sea. The beacon lights along the Corniche and on the islands were still faint in the twilight. How I used to hate the sea when I was working on the docks! It had seemed merciless to me in its inapproachable, inhuman monotony. But now, having come here after such a long and difficult journey across a ruined and defiled land, I couldn't have found greater consolation anywhere than this inhuman emptiness and solitude, trackless and unspoiled.
Anna Seghers
- Transit
I saw the mightiest armies of the world marching up to the other side of my garden fence and withdraw; I saw the cockiest of empires collapse and the young and the bold take heart; I saw the masters of the world rise up and come crashing down. I alone had immeasurably long to live.
Anna Seghers
- Transit
I'd really like to know whether the Montreal went down or not. What will all those people do over there, if they've made it? Start a new life? Take up new professions? Pester committees? Clear the forest primeval? If, that is, there really is a genuine wilderness over there, a wilderness that can rejuvenate everyone and everything. If so, I might almost regret not having gone along.
Internal Revenue Service
- 1040
Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this return and accompanying schedules and statements, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, they are true, correct, and complete. Declaration of preparer (other than taxpayer) is based on all information of which preparer has any knowledge.
