Sometimes an answer can vary with a context.

Advertising — A judicious mixture of flattery and threats.

Thus people — so it seems to me — Become good friends from sheer ennui.

I love you. All my failures were preparations for meeting you.

Sex and a cocktail: they both lasted about as long$$$ had the same effect$$$ and amounted to the same thing.

By repetition$$$ each lie becomes an irreversible fact upon which other lies are constructed.

No matter what happens$$$ its always now.

The fringes of their deserts were strewn with broken faiths.

Many men would take the death-sentence without a whimper$$$ to escape the life-sentence which fate carries in her other hand.

I will write: for myself$$$ for those who come after$$$ and for the voices that cry out not to be forgotten.