“-haven’t you learned that there is no such thing as complete harmony between two people, however much they profess to love one another? haven’t you realized how much time and speculation are wasted, how much endless mythological agonizing goes on, simply because they are out of phase? haven’t you seen how the light touch sometimes, nearly always, in fact, is more effective than the deepest passion?
-yes, i have seen that
-then, my dear, learn to use it. you have no idea how promising the world begins to look once you’ve decided to have it all for yourself. and how much healthier your decisions are once they become entirely selfish. it’s the simplest thing in the world to decide what you want to do (or, rather, what you don’t want to do) and just to act on that.”