Still Life

The only reason doors were locked was to prevent neighbors from dropping off baskets of zucchini at harvest time

No one was who they seemed. Everyone was more.

They say time heals. I think that’s bullshit, I think time does nothing. It only heals if the person wants it to.

Actually, the real mystery is why more people don’t commit murder. It must be terrible to be human.

‘I think many people love their problems. Gives them all sorts of excuses for not growing up and getting on with life.’

‘His theory is that life is loss,’ said Myrna after a moment. ‘Loss of parents, loss of loves, loss of jobs. So we have to find a higher meaning in our lives than these things and people. Otherwise we’ll lose ourselves.’

‘They are four sentences we learn to say, and mean.’ Gamache held up his hand as a fist and raised a finger with each point. ‘I don’t know. I need help. I’m sorry. And one other.’ Gamache thought for a moment but couldn’t bring it to mind. ‘I forget.

Oscar Wilde said that conscience and cowardice are the same thing. What stops us from doing horrible things isn’t our conscience but the fear of getting caught.’