‘Tis easy to be a friend to the prosperous, for it pays; ’tis not hard to be a friend to the poor, for ye get puffed up by gratitude and have your picture printed standing in front of a tenement with a scuttle of coal and an orphan in each hand. But it strains the art of friendship to be true friend to a born fool.
- Tobin’s Palm, P.12 in The Four Million by O.Henry

We should just believe in hope and trust and love and that’s all is going to get us through to everything.
- Bollywood starlet Sonam Kapoor at a candlelight vigil near German Bakery for the victims of the February 13 blast. Source: DNA

A great painter somehow looks like a great painter. But the great writer usually looks like the wages clerk in a cheese factory.
- Roald Dahl in My Uncle Oswald, p.207

The U.S. would grant a patent to a piece of toilet paper. Just because the U.S. granted a patent, doesn’t mean it should be valid.
- Amar Lulla, CEO of Indian generics drugmaker Cipla
Source: Wall Street Journal, February 11, 2010

What should have been the occasional spice to vary the regular menu had become the main course, leaving the appetite often confused or unfulfilled.

- Rohinton Mistry in A Fine Balance. P.60

Folks, to describe A Fine Balance as a gorgeous masterpiece would be an understatement.

Yes, this is our first book by Rohinton Mistry.

And we paid all of five-cents at our local library for the castoff, worn-out, paperback copy.

No, the book was not recommended to us by anyone. As we were desultorily eying the huge pile of discards on the shelves, we stumbled upon this book.

Never has an accidental discovery been so serendipitous.

Without doubt, the best five-cents we’ve spent in our life.

Meaning
As for the above quote, it’d be impossible to tell y’all the context without losing the magic.

It’s about Dina and Fredoon, as those who have read the book will recollect.

Of course, the quote is about sex.

While it appears humorous at first glance, there’s infinite sadness behind the statement. For Dina and her loss.

If you are curious, you can read about Rohinton Mistry on his Wiki profile here.

Claims about the dourness of lesbianism have been overstated.

- Professor Terry Castle
Source: New York Times Magazine, Jan 18, 2010