“I wanted to lie hour after hour on a couch, pouring out the dark, secret places of my heart – do this feeling that over my shoulder sat humanity and wisdom and generosity, a munificent heart – do this until that incredibly lovely day when the great man would say to me, his voice grave and dramatic with discovery: “This is you, Exley. Rise and go back into the world a whole man.”

“I wanted to lie hour after hour on a couch, pouring out the dark, secret places of my heart – do this feeling that over my shoulder sat humanity and wisdom and generosity, a munificent heart – do this until that incredibly lovely day when the great man would say to me, his voice grave and dramatic with discovery: “This is you, Exley. Rise and go back into the world a whole man.”

— Frederick Exley