Sweetbitter

by Stephanie Danler

“You are hoping to master the experience. The pain is what we know. It’s our barometer of reality. We never trust pleasure.”

You’re still young enough to think every experience will improve you in some long-term way, but it isn’t true. How do you suppose damage gets passed on?”

There were so few moments I had been certain in my life. I was constant revision, constant doubt.

“You know what I dislike? When people use the future as a consolation for the present. I don’t know if there is anything less helpful.”