Imbibe the spirit: fill yourself with fearful creatures. Allow the demon to penetrate your body, making you perform demonic actions. In so doing, understand the demon: his ways, his needs, and his meat. Soon, you know him inside out, for a demon is simple. When you know him, you are his master and his carer. He will carry you through the wilderness when you are weak and confused, leaping over rocks and hurtling you towards your destiny.

When deluded, seek your nemesis.

Where is our Achilles heel? It is right in the centre of our greatest talent. There, our knowledge began with words which blossomed into action, where it should have begun with action which blossomed into words.

What do you want to hear? I would like to know that. Then I will tell you everything you want to hear, and you will fall into a trance. Then I will rob you.

That paint smells of mildew, you should probably throw it away, I said to her. I'm painting, she replied. I need to finish this painting, with this paint. I said: you could go and buy some fresh paint and finish your painting. To which she replied: Then it would not be this painting. It would be another painting. I want to finish this painting.

How do you deal with a scandal? It is a summer breeze through your flesh and bones.

He and his wife were gossipers. They didn't believe anyone, or trust anyone, or give anyonethe benefit of the doubt. They gossiped all day in their little room. Soon enough, they turned on each other.

I told him I would renovate his house. I would fill it with all the great works he had done. I would curate an exhibition. People would come from everywhere and make speeches. I myself would make a speech! It would be an impressive one. It might even make me a little niche or career for me. I would then assiduously defend him against his critics, as, after all, he was my job.

She wanted to be a teacher but was unable even to look after her friends. So this is why she teaches anonymously: out of shame, because her words and deeds do not match, and she knows it. Strangely, though, this knowledge itself removes all blame, and so she is free to teach: anonymously.

The Palace of Wisdom is a library. Inside, there are a million books. No-one knows who wrote them. Only a few people come here to read. I was there one day and suddenly wondered, 'Why are there no authors for these books? Or, if there were authors, why did they leave their names off the books?' Then a voice replied, 'These authors bargained with me, and I gave them their true desires on the condition that they hid their faces.'