Devoted

by Dean Koontz

There weren’t ghosts or vampires or werewolves or anything like that, and there was zero chance that a dead guy might creep into the bedroom to take his gum tissue back. The only monsters were people.

Ultimately, failure can be the father of success if one learns from the errors made.

Only now does he realize that the worst of all miseries to afflict the human heart is loneliness.

Love was the best thing when you had it, and the most terrible thing when it was taken from you.

Although Woody had studied and learned a great deal, he was well aware that there were vast areas of knowledge about which he was ignorant and probably always would be. There was only so much time. He knew what he didn’t know. Dorian Purcell, on the other hand, seemed not to know what he didn’t know.

Stories were the greatest blessing of intelligence. They were food for the soul. They were medicine. You could live a thousand lives through stories—and learn to shape your own life into a story of the best kind.

simplicity in human affairs was the way of truth, and complexity the way of deceit. That envy and coveting were poisons from which arose the lust for power and all evil. That love was the antidote to envy and coveting. That truth was essential for the flourishing of love. That love was essential to maintain innocence. That peace of mind and perfect happiness could be achieved only through the truth of innocence and the simplicity of truth.

The important things.

Furthermore, both understood that all creatures with high cognitive ability, to one degree or another, were often fools and should embrace their foolishness rather than deny it. That understanding ensured humility. Humility was the foundation for all lasting achievements.

He was a reliable partner and well trained in the mortal arts, but he looked and acted too much like an assassin. Verbotski was dedicated to mentoring Bradley Knacker, however, because he believed the younger man truly wanted to be the best that he could be in his profession. These days, many of the younger generation lacked a serious work ethic and, having been hooked on tech and social media most of their lives, had the attention span of a Chihuahua with ADHD. Knacker was able to focus, and hard work didn’t daunt him. If he could lighten up, develop a credible smile of some kind, and temper his gung-ho attitude with patience, he would be the perfect partner with whom to go killing.

"...attention span of a Chihuahua with ADHD."