Tony Judt:

During the day I can at least request a scratch, an adjustment, a drink, or simply a gratuitous re-placement of my limbs ...

But then comes the night.

I am occasionally astonished, when I reflect upon the matter, at how readily I seem to get through, night after night, week after week, month after month, what was once an almost insufferable nocturnal ordeal. I wake up in exactly the position, frame of mind, and state of suspended despair with which I went to bed -- which in the circumstances might be thought a considerable achievement.

Hal Finney:

Although ALS is generally described as a fatal disease, this is not quite true. It is only mostly fatal.

I hope that when the time comes, I will choose life.

Carmine Gallo:

Google gatherings often feature a giant timer on the wall, counting down the minutes left for a particular meeting or topic. It's literally a downloadable timer that runs off a computer and is projected 4 feet tall.

The timer exerts a subtle pressure to keep meetings running on schedule.

John Tierney:

When people were asked to anticipate how much extra money and time they would have in the future, they realistically assumed that money would be tight, but they expected free time to magically materialize.

Sterling Hayden:

What does a man need -- really need? A few pounds of food each day, heat and shelter, six feet to lie down in -- and some form of working activity that will yield a sense of accomplishment. That's all -- in the material sense.

Cormac McCarthy:

I hear people talking about going on a vacation or something and I think, what is that about?

Have you seen "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"?