It was a place of sin, loose women, whiskey and gambling. It was no place for a good Presbyterian, and I did not long remain one.
What happens when good people are put into an evil place? Do they triumph or does the situation dominate their past history and morality?
Pencey was full of crooks. Quite a few guys came from these wealthy families, but it was full of crooks anyway. The more expensive a school is, the more crooks it has - I'm not kidding.
I know what good morals are, but you're supposed to disregard good morals when you're living in a crazy, bad world. If you're in hell, how can you live like an angel? You're surrounded by devils,trying to be an angel? That's like suicide.
It is not the young people that degenerate; they are not spoiled till those of mature age are already sunk into corruption.
It was impossible to operate in the aluminium business without krysha - very real physical protection.
I genuinely don't like Los Angeles. L.A. is this little petri dish of lack of morality.
