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What makes humans human is precisely that they do not know the future. that is why they do the fateful and amusing things they do: who can say how anything will turn out? therein lies the only hope for redemption, discovery, and-let’s be frank—fun, fun, fun! there might be things people will get away with. and not just motel towels. there might be great illicit loves, enduring joy, faith-shaking accidents with farm machinery. but you have to not know in order to see what stories your life’s efforts bring you. the mystery is all.
-Lorrie Moore
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What Makes Humans Human Is Precisely That

Lorrie Moore
What makes humans human is precisely that they do not know the future. that is why they do the fateful and amusing things they do: who can say how anything will turn out? therein lies the only hope for redemption, discovery, and-let’s be frank—fun, fun, fun! there might be things people will get away with. and not just motel towels. there might be great illicit loves, enduring joy, faith-shaking accidents with farm machinery. but you have to not know in order to see what stories your life’s efforts bring you. the mystery is all.
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Fun Lying Discovery

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Just me, just me sweet marie, she loves just me (she also loves maurice mcghee). no she don't, she loves just me (she also loves louise dupree). no she don't, she loves just me (she also loves the willow tree). no she don't, she loves just me! (poor, poor fool, why can't you see she can love others and still love thee.)
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Dear god," she prayed, "let me be something every minute of every hour of my life. let me be gay; let me be sad. let me be cold; let me be warm. let me be hungry...have too much to eat. let me be ragged or well dressed. let me be sincere - be deceitful. let me be truthful; let me be a liar. let me be honorable and let me sin. only let me be something every blessed minute. and when i sleep, let me dream all the time so that not one little piece of living is ever lost.
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