dennis scharnberg

“What utter clarity you enjoy!”  Harrison had found the perfect rejoinder to Ellen’s pomposity.

Darko Rivenbark, Snapshots.

I await that inevitable moment when feeling is allowed to have its way in the domain of physics.  “It seems so unfair that fluids must behave in that way.”  Or:  “I don’t like it that momentum is always conserved.”

Avery Gilcoyne,  Ten Paths to Erasure.

We are not as shallow as we would like to be.

Amanda Willcoxen, ed.,  The Philosophical and Literary Fragments of Gregory Sallust.

The lying doesn’t begin when we open our mouths.

Rula Tebb, ed.,  Remarks Attributed to the Late Great Hubert Ambrose.

The window sticker said “Fearless.”  It reminded me of something that my brother had said.  Something strange:  Far from fearless, I am afflicted with the fear of nothing.

Grace Philippi,  The Bliss City Murders.

“Andrew was engaged in the act of reasoning. I could tell by the expression on his face.”  Brenda chattered on and on like that to the Constables, without actually giving them anything concrete.

Beatrice Landers,  The Case of the Disappearing Detective.

—These guys spend half their time lying, and they are still not good at it.

—And what about when they tell the truth?  Are they any good at that?

Philip Cavendish,  Tilly’s Treasury of Colloquial Bits.

Always demand this of the adversary:  What is the purpose of your question?

Palmer Coates,  The Dark Afternoon of the Soul.

—But it’s great that everyone has a voice.  Surely.

—No.  No.  No.  No.  No!

Which statement represents the prevailing attitude toward the Web?

Winslow Crabb,  A More Satisfactory World.

Participation in the Liberal Arts today—as a student or as faculty—has one basic requirement:  knowing what to hate.

Regina Whiting,  Lost in the Tangle.