Quotes from Leigh Nichols

Oh, we all are, my young friend! We all deceive. Some of us deceive the whole world, every single fellow creature we meet. Some of us deceive only selected people, wives and lovers, or mothers and fathers. And some of us deceive only ourselves. But none of us is totally honest with everyone all the time, in all matters. Hell, the need to deceive is just one more curse that our sorry species has to bear.

Kelsko was a toad. But he was proud. Kelsko was a pathological liar, but he was not a sucker for the lies of others, the way most liars were, for he had not lost the ability to perceive the difference between truth and falsehood. He simply had no respect for that difference.

The entire world wasn't after them. It only seemed that way.

Laughter is a balm for the afflicted, the best defense against despair, the only medicine for melancholy.

The drugs don't destroy brain cells so much as they . . . eat away at their souls, leave them empty and purposeless.

A gray day in the spirit world.

Elliot grinned. 'I'm one of the founding partners of Stryker, West, Dwyer, Coffey, and Nichols.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30

I happen to believe that individuals are more apt to act responsibly and morally than institutions ever do, which at least puts us on the side of justice. And I also believe individuals are always smarter and better adapted to survival, at least in the long run, than any institution.

Joking in the midst of disaster,' she said. '"Laughter is a balm for the afflicted, the best defense against despair, the only medicine for melancholy.