Aphorism, epigram, quotation--or just plain nifty little zinger. Call them what you will, there's something irresistibly entertaining about observations that cleverly summarize some complex aspect of human existence in the fewest possible words. In Cruel Truths, Compassionate Lies, you'll find five hundred original, up-to-date thoughts by the author, four to four dozen words in length, taking unerring aim at everyday subjects as diverse as romance, corporations, polar bear babies, conception, and the unreliable moods of a neighbor's cat.