"no one knows how greatness comes to a man. it may lie in his blackness, sleeping, or it may lance into him like those driven fiery particles from outer space.  these things, however, are known about greatness: need gives it life and puts it in action, it never comes without pain; it leaves a man changed, chastened, and exalted at the same time - he can never return to simplicity." 

-sweet thursday

rue cambon, 1937

jean cocteau sketching elizabeth gibbons

"i know you don't intend to make it more difficult for me.  but it's my place to suffer for my children," she said. "i can bear it." 

- the sound and the fury

it occurs to me that i am America