Quote #17
You have to find out for yourself. Take the leap. Go as far as you can. Try staying out of touch. Become a stranger in a strange land. Acquire humility. Learn the language. Listen to what people are saying.
More from Paul Theroux
- Even the most distant and exotic place has its parallel in ordinary life.
- In many ways connection has been disastrous. We have confused information (of which there has been too much of)with ideas (of which there a…
- You must not judge people by their country. In South America, it is always wise to judge people by their altitude.
- You define a good flight by negatives: you didn't get hijacked, you didn't crash, you didn't throw up, you weren't late, you weren't nausea…
- The Japanese have perfected good manners and made them indistinguishable from rudeness.
- Extensive traveling induces a feeling of encapsulation, and travel, so broadening at first, contracts the mind.
- Fogeydom is the last bastion of the bore and reminiscence is its anthem. It is futile to want the old days back, but that doesn't mean one …
- Assigning human personalities to animals is the chief trait of the pet owner-the doting dog-lover with his baby talk, the smug stay-at-home…