on patience, stoicism, joy

But I never had these bad thoughts. With so many rags to launder in misery’s rivers, I’ve never had time for melancholy. What’s more, in the few moments life has left me, I learned to let my heart gallop on the saddle of intense feelings, to live life, as they say, to let her be. And note if you please that neither laughter nor smiles have ever tired the skin of my lips.

- Patrick Chamoiseau, pg. 33, Texaco, trans. Rejouis & Vinokurov