You didn’t have to travel very far out of Vientiane before the road turned to pebbles and potholes. Traveling in a truck was like falling down an endless flight of uneven steps in a coffin.

As Siri walked along that oh-so-noisy riverbank on his way to work, he saw a pelican gliding above the surface of the water. It was a marvelous bird, proud and resourceful, and he imagined how it would taste with a little chili paste and fresh yams. Hungry people made poor environmentalists.

If nothing else, my analysis of George W.’s oratory style had taught me that a sincere countenance and a confident stance were sufficient to distract your audience from the fact that you were talking rubbish.

He’d come to believe two conflicting ideas with equal conviction: that communism was the only way man could be truly content; and that man, given his selfish ways, could never practice communism with any success. The natural product of these two views was that man could never be content. History, with its procession of disgruntled political idealists, tended to prove him right.

Human beings mistakenly believed alcohol was a disguise that stopped real life from recognizing them. In fact, it was just a temporary hiding hole...

Fear helps us survive. I’ve spent a larger portion of my life being afraid than I have being in control. But, here I am. Forget this escape idea, son. It won’t help you or your family. Play the game. Find a tall tree somewhere. A tree that’s survived all the coups and massacres of history. Go to that tree and dig a hole near its roots and bury your pride there.

There was a Lao proverb that called teachers the engineers of the soul.

Chom. Don’t you have an urge to see justice done?” “It’s not nearly as strong as my urge to reach forty with a complete set of limbs.

Don’t tell me you’ve offended that one too.” Daeng shook her head. “Have we offended that one?” Siri asked. “Don’t recall,” said Civilai. “Wait. Isn’t he the one whose limousine we filled up with ducks?” “No. That was the Vice-Minister of Agriculture.

Concentrate on the small things and do them well.