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41 " We are faced with two great delusions in life: the first is that we will live on through our children—that our spirit will somehow continue to exist in the memories of those who cry at our graves. The second, even more insidious, delusion is that we will live on through our art—that our spirit will somehow continue to exist in the words we put down on paper. Alas, being remembered and existing are not the same things—and the best we can do is to love our children and take joy in creating our art. "
― Anthony Marais
42 " So many fear death—spending their precious waking hours discussing it—while failing to notice that deep sleep is no different. It’s as if they don’t hear Mother Nature telling them not to worry every day. "
― Anthony Marais , Delusionism
43 " Our most cultural state is one of total certainty—which is the reason those of us who are most certain are those who are most out of touch with nature (i.e., reality). "
44 " Humanity is as horrified and repulsed by real nature as it is by real death. Thus, we strike back against this formidable opponent with our sharpest weapon: our imagination. From this noble tool—born of necessity and elevated to beauty—culture was born, and the war against nature begun. "
45 " Culture preaches monogamy while Nature repeats it—over and over again. "
46 " To associate art with the artist is to forfeit art, because at this moment we are pushed into the arena of self-expression, and can be recognized only by what differentiates us from others. "
47 " So many are obsessed with success that they fail to realize sleep is the best time of day and the second most important activity we do. In fact, it ranks so closely to the first activity, that many people confuse the terms. "
48 " If pleasure is Nature’s seal of approval, sleep is her reward. "
49 " Cockroach: What is war?Man: How we lost the human race. "
50 " Fireworks: we shoot them off gaily while our dogs hide under the bed. Philosophers are dogs! "
51 " Gape long enough into a looking glass and you’ll eventually see beauty. The same can be said of self-analysis, and as soon as one apes oneself, a second monkey is born. "
52 " In California depth is measured in feet: six feet on one end of the pool and three feet on the other. "
― Anthony Marais , Insured Risk
53 " Homosexuality is the most beautiful aspect of humanity. For its existence is proof that altruism is natural; it is to demonstrate that the theory of the “survival of the fittest” can only apply to the species as a whole, and that reproduction is insufficient to secure our place in the great jungle of life, which means being nice is a more stable evolutionary strategy than making kids; and if the homosexual is attracted to religion or to art—or, in smaller societies, to shamanism or caring for other people’s children—is this not due to his or her search for purpose? If so, then what we call purpose must be something that encompasses all modes of life. What we call love must be greater than child rearing or caring for a mate. "
54 " Sympathy is to love thy neighbor. Empathy is to leave her alone. "
55 " No artist is ever happy with all the work they produce, so why should their critics be? Let artists be revered for their best works of art—even if it happens but once in a lifetime—and forget about the rest. All too often art is a wondrous accident, and it is folly to seek genius in its maker. "
56 " On auteur theory: never has a critical movement so thoroughly ignored the one-hit wonders of its artform. Imagine music without these gems—half of pop rock would be gone and musicologists would have nothing to dig up! "
57 " On language—from the mother tongue came our father’s sins. "
58 " Whereas atheism is the child who left home, Satanism looks sillier with every year it sticks around poking fun at mom and dad. "
59 " Temptation is the voice of reason without its clothes on. "
60 " We need but three things to change the world: a brain, a heart, and a friend. "