“I have seen what a laugh can do. It can transform almost unbearable tears into something bearable, even hopeful.”

“2023. Assist the afflicted with something real, if thou canst; As for Tears they are but Water, what good can they do?”

“I dearly love a laugh… I hope I never ridicule what is wise or good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can.”

“The absence of old friends one can endure with equanimity. But even a momentary separation from anyone to whom one has just been introduced is almost unbearable.”

“Only those who still have hope can benefit from tears.”

“Anything I can not transform into something marvelous, I let go.”

“It is my opinion that human history can make no sense unless evil doings are recognized for what they are, and that they are bearable only if somehow they may be redeemed.”

“Where something becomes extremely difficult and unbearable, there we also stand already quite near its transformation.”

“Living in an institution, rumours of change can make life more bearable, and starting rumours can be a wonderful pleasure for those without much hope. The National Theatre was like that.”

“Reading is a gift. It's something you can do almost anytime and anywhere. It can be a tremendous way to learn, relax, and even escape. So, enough about the virtues of reading. Time to read on.”