Lilith Sternin

"Peace is simply the absence of conflict, not the presence of anything good."

"Nature is beautiful precisely because it's entirely indifferent to human suffering."

"I would rather be feared than liked, and preferably both."

"Literature separates the cultured from the illiterate masses."

"The capacity for self-awareness in others is depressingly limited."

"Courage without intelligence is simply recklessness."

"I don't need to be understood; I need to be obeyed."

"The concept of a soulmate is propaganda for the romantically deluded."

"Faith is the last refuge of those without evidence."

"Perseverance is admirable only when applied to worthwhile pursuits."

"Most people mistake intelligence for wisdom, which is their loss."

"Life is a series of disappointments punctuated by brief moments of satisfaction."

"The pursuit of happiness is fundamentally self-defeating."

"I find human behavior simultaneously predictable and disappointing."

"True friendship requires absolute honesty, which is why I have none."

"Success means having fewer people I'm obligated to interact with."

"The average person's idea of freedom is simply the freedom to fail differently."

"I don't hold grudges; I simply remember infractions permanently."

"Humor is the defense mechanism of the intellectually superior."

"The truth is often cruel, which is the only reason I tell it."

"Vulnerability is weakness dressed up in therapeutic language."

"I maintain my standards because they're the only reliable thing in this chaos."

"I'm not a clingy person, I simply appreciate being appreciated."

"Mediocrity is a choice, and I don't choose it."

"A woman of substance doesn't need to lower her standards; she raises everyone else's."

"I find that silence is often the most eloquent response to foolishness."

"True strength is knowing exactly who you are and refusing to apologize for it."

"Life is too brief to spend it with people who don't deserve your time."

"I don't follow trends; I set them, then abandon them when they become popular."

"Love should enhance your life, not diminish your sense of self."