So it goes

Kurt Vonnegut Jr. was born in Indianapolis on Armistice Day, 1922, to a wealthy family of architects and brewers. After studying to be an engineer, he joined the Army during World War II, and was captured by the Germans. In Dresden as a POW, he survived the night of Allied fire-bombing which killed around 150,000 German civilians -- more than died at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Afterwards, he helped other surviving POWs to gather and cremate corpses. This provided the backdrop for his most famous novel, Slaughterhouse-Five (1969). Other famous works included Player Piano (1952), Cats Cradle (1963) and Breakfast of Champions (1973).

Vonneguts personal life was surrounded by tragedies. His mother committed suicide; and his sister and her husband died during the same week in 1958 -- leaving 3 children, whom Vonnegut adopted. His son struggled with madness but emerged. Vonnegut himself, after a low period in the 1970s attempted suicide in 1984.

In later years Vonnegut returned to writing, and lent his support to various causes. He served as Honorary President of the American Humanist Association,and appeared in advertisements for the American Civil Liberties Union. In 2005 he publicly criticized the US invasion of Iraq.

In 2000, a fire destroyed the top story of his home. Vonnegut was hospitalized and his personal archives destroyed. Early in 2007, a fall at home caused irreversible brain injuries. He died aged 84 in April 2007.

Some Vonnegut sayings

A purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved.

I really wonder what gives us the right to wreck this poor planet of ours.

I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge, you see all kinds of things you cant see from the center.

It happens too fast for you ever to think about it. If you could just persuade people of this, but they insist on amassing information.

If people think nature is their friend, then they sure dont need an enemy.

Laughter or crying is what a human being does when theres nothing else he can do.

Writers can treat their mental illnesses every day.

Maturity is a bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists...unless laughter can be said to remedy anything.

Human beings are about 1,000 times dumber and meaner than they think they are.

The universe is a big place, perhaps the biggest.

Unanticipated invitations to travel are dancing lessons from God.

Please notice when youre happy.

Another flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance.

Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand.

Be careful what you pretend to be because you are what you pretend to be.

A good idea will keep you awake during the morning, but a great idea will keep you awake during the night.

Educating a woman is like pouring honey into a fine Swiss watch: everything stops.

Dont be reckless with other peoples hearts, and dont put up with people who are reckless with yours.

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