Lilith Sternin

"Fear is simply the recognition of one's own inadequacy."

"Art should challenge and disturb, not comfort and soothe."

"The healthy mind is a constant source of anxiety."

"I don't ask for much—just excellence and absolute perfection."

"Time is precious, which is why I don't waste it on most people."

"Patience is a virtue practiced only by those without options."

"Most relationships are simply arrangements of mutual exploitation."

"The definition of insanity is expecting different results from the same people."

"I would apologize, but I'm too busy being right."

"Creativity requires a certain detachment from convention."

"History is simply the record of humanity's repeated failures."

"Music can be tolerated if it's classical and intellectually challenging."

"The pursuit of justice is admirable but ultimately futile."

"Motivation comes from within, which is why most people are unmotivated."

"Beauty is irrelevant compared to intellectual merit."

"The masses fear what they cannot understand, which is nearly everything."

"Dreams are what people chase when reality becomes unbearable."

"Technology is merely a tool for the already intelligent."

"Gratitude implies obligation, which I find distasteful."

"The human capacity for self-deception is truly remarkable."

"Work provides structure for the directionless."

"Adventure is simply danger without proper planning."

"Imagination is wasted on those who can't appreciate it."

"Most people confuse loneliness with solitude."

"Politics is the art of convincing the foolish that your foolishness is better."

"The problem with war is that it creates so many survivors."

"Inspiration is for those too lazy to work methodically."

"Health is merely a temporary reprieve before illness returns."

"Money is simply the quantification of one's own worth."

"Death is the only honest thing in a fundamentally dishonest world."