“The con is a kind of jiu-jitsu that turns the sucker's own greed into its principal weapon. The greedier you are the more likely you are to be conned, and for the greater a sum. Since people regularly dispose of their intelligence in their rush to be swindled, and then turn right around and do it again, humans must want to be duped. Institutionalized wishful thinking - the stock market, religion, advertising - is after all a cornerstone of our system.” PeopleThinkingWantHumansKindTurnsGreaterWeaponsGreedAdvertisingPrincipalSuckerWishful ThinkingCornerstonesJiu Jitsu Author:Luc Sante
“Paris had more sex than most church-laden places, and more church than most sex-laden places. Parisians crowed about Travail-Famille-Patrie while frequenting brothels. They enjoyed visiting drag shows while clamping down on homosexuality. They celebrated romance while treating women like dirt. Many of these contradictions existed elsewhere, but I do think Paris ruled the hypocrisy championships.” ThinkingRomanceChurchHypocrisyContradictionElsewhereChampionshipHomosexuality Author:Luc Sante
“I wasn't born in New York and I may never live there again, and just thinking about it makes me melancholy, but I was changed forever by it, my imagination is manacled to it, and I wear its mark the way you wear a scar. Whatever happens, whether I like it or not, New York City is fated always to remain my home.” ThinkingWayMayHomeHappensBornImaginationCitiesForeverNew YorkChangedMarkMelancholyNew York CityScarMy ImaginationWhatever Happens Author:Luc Sante
