Un-Random Quote Friday

This one goes out to Graciewilde over at In Search of a Title, who posted an amazing review of Joan Didion's essay collection, Slouching Towards Bethlehem on July 4. The review included a few quotes that struck a chord with Gracie, one of which happens to be a favorite of mine as well. Somehow, on the way to leaving a comment to that effect, I got sidetracked for, oh, a month or so, but here I am now and here is that quote that we both love along with another favorite of mine from the same collection.

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I think we are all well advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we find them attractive company or not. Otherwise they turn up unannounced and surprise us, come hammering on the mind's door at 4 a.m. of a bad night and demand to know who deserted them, who betrayed them, who is going to make amends. We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget.

~~Joan Didion, "On Keeping a Notebook" in Slouching Towards Bethlehem

Most of our platitudes notwithstanding, self-deception remains the most difficult deception. The tricks that work on others count for nothing in that very well-lit back alley were one keeps assignations with oneself: no winning smiles will do here, no prettily drawn lists of good intentions. One shuffles flashily but in vain through one's marked cards--the kindess done for the wrong reason, the apparent triumph which involved no real effort, the seemingly heroic act into which one had been shamed. The dismal fact is that self-respect has nothing to do with the approval of others--who are, after all, deceived easily enough...

~~Joan Didion, "On Self-Respect" in Slouching Towards Bethlehem