If there is any human tragedy, there is only one, and it occurs when we forget who we are and remain silent while a stranger takes up residence inside our skin. James Lee Burke More Quotes by James Lee Burke More Quotes From James Lee Burke Hackberry Holland's greatest fear was his fellow man's propensity to act collectively, in militaristic lockstep, under the banner of God and country. Mobs did not rush across town to do good deeds, and in Hackberry's view, there was no more odious taint on any social or political endeavor than universal approval. James Lee Burke greatest-fear men country Neither our own passing nor the passing of an era is a tragedy, no matter how much we would like to think it is. James Lee Burke tragedy matter thinking My experience has been that people who die for causes have few friends in death. James Lee Burke few-friends causes people I looked at Lucas with the pang that a parent feels when he knows his child will be hurt and that it's no one's fault and that to try to preempt the rites of passage is an act of contempt for the child's courage. James Lee Burke parent hurt children THE ALLURE OF Montana is like a commitment to a narcotic; you can never use it up or get enough of it. Its wilderness areas probably resemble the earth on the first day of creation. James Lee Burke montana use commitment I wouldn't write anything autobiographical. If you've lived a life like Laurence of Arabia, it might be a consideration, but otherwise it's a little bit vain, it seems to me. James Lee Burke arabia writing littles We all end up in the same place. Some sonner than others. James Lee Burke ends What's the worst thing about getting old? Getting old. James Lee Burke getting-old worst-things worst Success, like fashion, is a fickle companion and can leave one in the wink of an eye. James Lee Burke fickle fashion eye Don't undo a brave and noble deed. Don't rob yourself of your own virtue. James Lee Burke noble deeds brave The best thing about being a best-selling writer is being a best-selling writer. More seriously, today I can write full time and pay the bills. James Lee Burke bills writing pay I could only wonder again at the white race's naïveté in always sending forth our worst members as our emissaries. James Lee Burke vets race white Don't let anyone tell you that age purchases your freedom from fear of death. James Lee Burke your-freedom fear-of-death age Is there a design in the events of our lives? Or do things just happen, much like a junk yard falling down a staircase? If it's the latter, how do you deal with it? James Lee Burke junk design fall Never read bad stuff if you're an artist; it will impair your own game. James Lee Burke artist games stuff Why do I always feel like you're trying to staple my umbilical cord to the corner of your desk? James Lee Burke umbilical-cord like-you trying A lie is an act of theft. It steals peoples faith and makes them resent themselves James Lee Burke theft stealing lying Louisiana is a fresh-air mental asylum. James Lee Burke louisiana asylums air You do it a day at a time. You just put your rejection slips in a shoebox and tell yourself one day you're going to autograph them and sell them at auction. James Lee Burke rejection one-day writing How do you caution a fawn about a cigarette a motorist has just flipped from his car window into a patch of yellow grass, or tell a sparrow that winged creatures eventually plummet to earth? James Lee Burke car earth yellow
