Crosstalk

by Connie Willis

“If everybody minded their own business,” the Duchess said in a hoarse growl, “the world would go round a deal faster than it does.” — LEWIS CARROLL, Alice in Wonderland

‘Of course’ is a dead giveaway that you’re lying. ‘Of course I didn’t sleep with her.’ ‘Of course I like your family.’ ‘Of course you can trust me.’ ”

“And you know who people lie to the most? Themselves. They’re absolute masters of self-deception.

Side effect of spending a lot of time online. Internet conversations always involve Hitler.

“It is always the best policy to speak the truth, unless, of course, you are an exceptionally good liar.” —JEROME K. JEROME, The Idlers’ Club

“If I’m the frying pan, then that out there is the fire.” —SYFY’S Alice

“The course of true love never did run smooth.” —WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

“It cannot rain but it pours.” —JONATHAN SWIFT

Three o’clock’s when every doubt and regret and guilty thought bubbles up out of your subconscious to plague you. ‘The dark night of the soul,’ F. Scott Fitzgerald called it.”

Three o’clock in the morning might be romantic, but four fifteen definitely wasn’t.

“There’s nothing so bad that it couldn’t be worse.” —IRISH PROVERB

“Those who have courage to love should have courage to suffer.” —ANTHONY TROLLOPE, The Bertrams

“Things are indeed hopeless—hopeless—but they’re not serious.” —Finian’s Rainbow