The City in the Middle of the Night

by Charlie Jane Anders

“That’s what history is, really,” Bianca says, “the process for turning idiots into visionaries.”

Every time I think I know what’s wrong with me, I find something else.

“Most people die for stupid reasons. The most anyone can hope for is to make some noise before that happens.”

“Part of how they make you obey is by making obedience seem peaceful, while resistance is violent. But really, either choice is about violence, one way or another.”

every economy runs on bullets, one way or another.

“Hernan always says that a perfect moment of beauty can last forever. But maybe some moments are so ugly that they never end, either. All you can do is be patient with yourself.”

“You can’t hide from the people you care about. A love that hides is already halfway to becoming regret.

loyalty isn’t some sugary confection that you hand out to everyone.

Maybe you don’t get to choose how you make peace, or what kind of peace you make. You count yourself lucky if peace doesn’t run away from you.

A lot of what people call civilization is just neglect.

The only thing that never disappears is the past.

progress requires us to curate the past, to remove from history things that aren’t “constructive.”

You might mistake understanding for forgiveness, but if you did, then the unforgiven wrong would catch you off guard, like a cramp, just as you reached for generosity.

People can stand things for the sake of politics that they would never endure for love or profit.