And the Children of Israel wept and said: “Who will feed us meat? We remember the fish that we ate in Egypt free of charge, and the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. But now, our life is parched, and there is nothing. We have nothing to anticipate but manna.”

—Numbers 11:4–6

It was then that I stood up in the theater and shouted: “Don’t do it. It’s not too late to change your minds, both of you. Nothing good will come of it, only remorse, hatred, scandal, and two children whose characters are monstrous.”

—Delmore Schwartz, In Dreams Begin Responsibilities