Robin Marantz Henig Quotes & Sayings

“The English language has 112 words for deception, according to one count, each with a different shade of meaning: collusion, fakery, malingering, self-deception, confabulation, prevarication, exaggeration, denial.”

“Elderly parents tend to think their relationship with their middle-aged children is smoother than the children do. Adult grandchildren, who have little stake in pulling away from their grandparents, tend to describe that relationship as less rose-colored than do Gram and Gramps.”

“Hardships of early human life favored the evolution of certain cognitive tools, among them the ability to infer the presence of organisms that might do harm, to come up with causal narratives for natural events and to recognize that other people have minds of their own with their own beliefs, desires and intentions.”

“I regret not working harder to create true friendships with other couples, not seeking out people with whom to go do things and go places - people with whom to have a few crazy, memorable bonding adventures.”

“In the womb, humans are free of microbes. Colonization begins during the journey down the birth canal, which is riddled with bacteria, some of which make their way onto the newborn's skin.”

“Lies can be verbal or nonverbal, kindhearted or self-serving, devious or bald-faced; they can be lies of omission or lies of commission; they can be lies that undermine national security or lies that make a child feel better. And each type might involve a unique neural pathway.”

“Angels, demons, spirits, wizards, gods and witches have peppered folk religions since mankind first started telling stories.”

“Anxiety is not fear, exactly, because fear is focused on something right in front of you - a real and objective danger.”

“Biology sets the context, and that is critical, but obesity still boils down to whether a person eats too much or exercises enough.”

“Even though loneliness affects so many of us, it has gotten scant research attention compared to related conditions like depression or anxiety.”