So much of our lives is given over to the consideration of our imperfections that there is no time to improve our imaginary virtues. The truth is we only perfect our vices, and man is a worse creature when he dies than he was when he was born.
“American society as a whole can never achieve the outer-reaches of potential, so long as it tolerates the inner cities of despair.”
“People come to music to seek oblivion: is that not also a form of deception?”