Starfire

“D’you know what homeostasis is?”

“I used to, before I rotted my brain with politics.”

You went through life in public office, laying claim to high morality when you knew quite well that at heart you were totally immoral. You were well acquainted with the majority of the seven deadly sins. Certainly pride, anger, and greed had their place in your life. You could claim a lifelong familiarity with and affection for lust.

And then, at an age when a man ought know himself, you discovered that your immorality had its limits.

I’d make a case for saying anything that propagates itself in an intentional way qualifies to be thought of as alive.

It is not clear to me whether the insouciance of youth will be the doom of humanity or its salvation. I prefer to think the latter, but I have my doubts.

Many plans featured that old standby, prayer. Its historical record of effectiveness apparently discouraged few people, although I, regrettably, am among the skeptics. All the churches were full. It is not clear to me exactly what prayers were being offered by their occupants. The temporary suspension, perhaps, of the laws of physics? The art galleries and theaters also reported record crowds. If religion is an opiate, art is an anodyne.

The limits we assign to Nature sometimes define our own lack of imagination.

Engineers are dangerous because they’re obsessed by facts and you can’t divert them or buy them off.

If you tried really hard, you could take that as a compliment.

Maddy was not consumed by the immediate pressures of the here and now. She had been provided with a fatal indulgence: time to think.

Other people’s jobs always seemed easier than yours until you actually had to do them.

Some of the Argos Group records are awful strange. If I had to guess, I’d say there’s fiddlin’ going on that don’t sound like violins.

An old axiom: when you are totally confused, don’t make things worse by talking.

The bad thing about being a world-class worrier was that being right was worse than being wrong.

Humans were inexplicable only if you assumed that they were logical.

When you have died once, you become most reluctant to do so again.

The game never ended. If Sol were guaranteed to go nova tomorrow, today she would hear from lobbyists for sunscreen.

TIG. Trust In Government. An old political principle, to give your organization a name that’s the opposite of what you mean.

Maddy listened closely to John’s voice. It was calm, but with an odd undercurrent of excitement. She thought, That weirdo, he’s enjoying this. If I were a failing component, I’d get more of his attention than I do now. Engineers!