I had, at the time, an irrational, Luddite inclination that there was — Jeffrey Ford

"Real memories intrude now and then as do self-admonitions for a wasted life, but the smoke’s other feature is that it lets you not give a shit about anything but taking in more smoke."

"“You gotta watch that anger. The customer’s always right,” said Merk. “The customer’s hardly ever right,” said Slackwell."

"Nothing is more comforting to people than to have their certainties trumpeted back to them in bold, clear typeface."

"If he’s not crazy, he’s probably playing with your mind. He seems to have a healthy measure of mischief about him. That string tie is a good indicator."

"“I understand the human brain. It’s a double-edged sword. An evolutionarily development that gives you the wherewithal to know that life is basically a shit pastry one is obliged to eat slowly, and the ability to disguise that fact with beautiful delusions.” “Where do God and the cash come in?” asked Slackwell. “The cash is the pastry part. God, he just likes to watch us eat. The more we eat the more he loves us. You can’t live without love.”"

"What good is the illusion of fiction if it cannot show us a way to become the people we need to be?"