Ivan

“You won’t understand what I mean now, but someday you will: the only trick of friendship, I think, is to find people who are better than you are—not smarter, not cooler, but kinder, and more generous, and more forgiving—and then to appreciate them for what they can teach you, and to try to listen to them when they tell you something about yourself, no matter how bad—or good—it might be, and to trust them, which is the hardest thing of all. But the best, as well.”
― Hanya Yanagihara, A Little Life

“The ideal architect should be a man of letters, a skillful draftsman, a mathematician, familiar with historical studies, a diligent student of philosophy, acquainted with music, not ignorant of medicine, learned in the responses of jurisconsults, familiar with astronomy and astronomical calculations.”
― Vitruvius

“Guy fell silent again. And then he said—and his voice sounded sorrowful and distressed—“Last week I killed my hamster.” “Just by staring at it?” I asked. “Yes,” confirmed Guy.”
― Jon Ronson, The Men Who Stare at Goats

“It seems clear from these results that the purpose of most bullying is to secure status and avoid resistance of any kind. So bullies don’t pick on a classmate in hopes of getting a reaction. Quite the contrary: they bully in hopes of getting no reaction at all.”
― Ken Jennings, Because I Said So!: The Truth Behind the Myths, Tales, and Warnings Every Generation Passes Down to Its Kids