Lightning Rods Quotes

“If you’re a salesman, you have to deal with yourself the way you are. Not how you’d like to be.

If you don’t have what it takes, you can waste a lot of time asking yourself “How can I get what it takes?” The question you should be asking yourself is, “Is there something else that takes what I have to offer?” Because if there’s something you can succeed at, just the way you are, you won’t have to waste a lot of time trying to change yourself. Which you’re never going to be able to do, anyway.”
― Helen DeWitt, Lightning Rods

“The reason is that even in a fantasy there is nothing even remotely erotic about a toilet bowl. In fact, considered as an accoutrement to a sexual encounter, a toilet bowl is a real cold shower.”
― Helen DeWitt, Lightning Rods

“[...] and unfortunately most women did not seem to have the same urges. Or if they did, they wouldn't admit it. They probably didn't, anyway. But if they did they wouldn't admit it.”
― Helen DeWitt, Lightning Rods

“A goose instinctively heads south in a V-formation in a V formed of other geese instinctively heading south. It doesn’t check out the beach and experiment with a sandpiper lifestyle. It does what it’s designed to do.”
― Helen DeWitt, Lightning Rods

“Truth be told, you can make a hell of a lot more money by being wrong at the right time than by being right at the wrong time.”
― Helen DeWitt, Lightning Rods

“So Lucille pressed the button, and a panel slid open in the wall, and the transporter came through, and sure enough here was the bare butt of the client waiting to be whipped. For reasons best known to himself he had kept his shoes and socks on, so he was wearing well-polished black loafers and black silk socks.”
― Helen DeWitt, Lightning Rods

“Men are strange at the best of times. Some are just stranger than others.”
― Helen DeWitt, Lightning Rods

“The perfect job does not exist. People are people. Any job you go to, you're always going to find people.”
― Helen DeWitt, Lightning Rods

“If you don't have what it takes, you can waste a lot of time asking yourself, "How can I get what it takes?" The question you should be asking yourself if, "Is there something else that takes what I have to offer?”
― Helen DeWitt, Lightning Rods

“Any salesman knows that you have to deal with people the way they are. Not how you'd like them to be.”
― Helen DeWitt, Lightning Rods

“Once he had a foot in the door he explained, “It’s not for me to make moral judgments. I’m a businessman. I deal with people as they are, not as they ought to be.” “Speaking”
― Helen DeWitt, Lightning Rods