“Could be worse, as they say.” “That’s the sum story of human history, isn’t it? Could be worse. As if that’s… — Alastair Reynolds

Autocratic governments are masters of self-contradiction. They say one thing, do another.

I had work to be getting on with. I’ve always had work to be getting on with. It’s what the universe was put there for: to give me things to do.

All her concerns, all her fears, began to feel trifling. It was just a trick of perspective, really, seeing things as they truly were.