JEAN GIONO
Horseman on the Roof

“Learn a little selfishness,” he said to himself, “it’s very useful and you never look like an idiot. Those two told you to get lost and they’re right. They’re dealing with a matter that concerns them and they’re handling it as they please. They don’t want you to complicate things at all. Whether the patient gets better or worse, in a quarter of an hour they won’t be crying anymore and they’ll only think about getting by. Do you think generosity is always good? Nine times out of ten it’s impolite. And it’s never manly.”