Top Ten: Koontz Philosophia

Dean Koontz writes thriller books, almost horror. He presents truly evil characters who have some triumphs along the way, but are defeated by common people with uncommon, unsought for courage. The books are not for the faint of heart, but bear fruit in the ultimate triumph of good.

In his books from the last decade or so, Koontz also has freely woven in Koontz philosophy into his books, small gems that invite us to leave the narrative for a moment and consider larger truths. Here are my top ten from his book, Brother Odd, given in chronological order (with page references!).

10. Ultimately there is only misery in hoping for the wrong thing. (23)

9. Sleep is a kind of peace, and I have not yet earned peace. (33)

8. Humanity is a parade of fools, and I am at the front of it, twirling a baton. (87)

7. I don't know if this deception qualified as a half-step down the slippery slope. I had no sensation of sliding. But of course we never notice the descent until we're rocketing along at high velocity. (106)

6. How passionately we love everything that cannot last: the dazzling crystallory of winter, the spring in bloom, the fragile flight of butterflies, crimson sunsets, a kiss, and life. (123)

5. In this world where too many are willing to see only the light that is visible, never the Light Invisible, we have a daily darkness that is night, and we encounter another darkness from time to time that is death, the deaths of those we love, but the third and most constant darkness that is with us every day, at all hours of every day, is the darkness of the mind, the pettiness and meanness and hatred, which we have invited into ourselves, and which we pay out with generous interest. (177)

4. Dogs invite us not only to share their joy but also to live in the moment, where we are neither proceeding from nor moving toward, where the enchantment of the past and future cannot distract us, where a freedom from practical desire and a cessation of our usual ceaseless action allows us to recognize the truth of our existence, the reality of our world and purpose--if we dare. (241)

3. Even when God is your co-pilot, it pays to pack a parachute. (305)

2. "I wish I'd known your mother."
"She said everyone . . . everyone, if he's rich or poor, if he's somebody big or nobody at all--everyone has a grace." A look of peace came over his embattled face when he said the word grace. "You know what a grace is?"
"Yes."
"A grace is a thing you get from God, you use it to make a better world, or not use it, you have to choose." (338)

1. He said, "Busy is happy," and I suspected that his mother had counseled him about the satisfaction and the peace that come from giving to the world whatever you are capable of contributing. (368-369)