The Deluge

by Stephen Markley

We understand better than ever that men are selfish, arrogant, awful, and entitled, and yet we nevertheless spend most of our energy and intellect trying to find one who seems okay enough and will love us. Leftover emotional energy is then wasted on not wanting to want that.

Yet one does not get into MIT without understanding that if you find gambling exciting, you are doing it wrong.

“Bad weed makes you paranoid, good weed makes you understand why you should be paranoid.”

Violence against nature always goes hand in hand with violence against people.”

Gabriel García Márquez: “If I knew that this would be the last time I would hear your voice, I’d take hold of each word to be able to hear it over and over again. If I knew this was the last time I’d see you, I’d tell you I love you, and would not just assume foolishly you know it already.”

“All this has made me wonder who exactly is a good person. If anyone can clear that bar anymore. I’ve thought a lot about complicity, how we’re all compromised. But we have to try to do what’s right and love each other all the same.”

Mountains are the planet’s best violence. Mountains are chaos disguised as stillness.