"When I boohooed about being light-skinned he emptied his shoeshine kit on my dresser and offered to paint me whatever color I wanted to be. Then he cussed me out for disrespecting my white mother."

"They could not avoid the conclusion that they were losing on all of the issues they care about."

"Periodically students will quote an article in Fidelia’s Sisters and ask me if I’ve heard of the organization. That always makes me really happy."

"Academia is a polemic."

"TED’s relationship to the elite mirrors that of the Episcopal Church 60 years ago except these elites actually believe the sermons delivered from the red circle pulpit."

"I was trying to be nice. I didn't mean to bring Jesus into it."

"I was shocked to discover that even in the UK – the land of Marmite sandwiches and Heinz beans on toast – the pleasures of Kraft macaroni and cheese were somehow beneath the populace."

"Never mind all that; I know where you can buy an eco-friendly roll of bubble wrap, cheap."

"Poor J. Alfred was asleep and dreaming “Till human voices wake us, and we drown.” But Kermit was only half asleep. And frogs can swim."

Steve Thorngate

The Century managing editor is also a church musician and songwriter.

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