I think a lot of the time people assume that their values are universal. And they don't understand which aspects of their values are actually universal and which aspects are very specific. Andrew Solomon More Quotes by Andrew Solomon More Quotes From Andrew Solomon As a little kid in the late 1960s, I was afraid of the world. Even if I didn't get caught in the draft that was sending American teenagers to Vietnam, there was always the possibility of a Soviet nuclear attack. I made constant escape plans and imagined a life going from port to port. Andrew Solomon escape late life world We think that fear must be played out in fight, with military intervention, or in flight, via isolationism - but we are not hunted game, and those are not the only options. There is also the possibility of acceptance, with its corollary of understanding and its ultimate manifestation in embracing. Andrew Solomon fight game acceptance fear No one much wants to be belittled, but we tolerate slurs surprisingly often for ourselves; for our lionised children, we demand freedom from insult. Andrew Solomon tolerate insult freedom children People who are different are constantly dealing with families who don't understand them. Andrew Solomon who understand different people A breakdown involves getting to the point at which your mental state prevents you from doing the normal things of your everyday life. I remember from my own experience that I was completely ambushed by mine. Andrew Solomon you experience remember life The anxiety phase of my first depression lasted six months. It was incredibly paralyzing. Andrew Solomon phase first anxiety depression Sleep is my great indulgence, and I get eight hours every night. Being chronically overtired raises stress levels in a bad way and is responsible for a lot of depressive breaks. Andrew Solomon great stress sleep night Oh yes, I certainly have low days. I feel that in treating the depression, it's not so much that I've become happier as it is that I can be unhappy in better ways. Andrew Solomon feel better unhappy depression I am not a great believer in the idea that journalistic neutrality means you have to abandon the people you talk to. Andrew Solomon i-am great you people I think that people are most comfortable when the world is orderly. I think there's the sense that when you begin questioning basic distinctions, such as the distinction between being male and being female, it represents a threat to the social order. Andrew Solomon think you people world Latino kids are not rejected by their parents for being Latino, nor are most Muslims disowned by their parents for being Muslims, but those who are gay are often the target of their families' disapprobation or outright hostility. Andrew Solomon parents being target gay