“Alyx,” she said, “you're going to be a legend.” “I already am, Captain,” she said. — Jack Mcdevitt

“Organized mayhem,” Nick commented, “seems to be the chief preoccupation of intelligent species everywhere.”

“One should always be skeptical. That’s always been our problem. We have too many believers.”

“Believers in what?”

“In everything.”

What would happen is that people like Geroge and Alyx would grow old and die chasing a dream. Although there were probably worse things to do with one’s life.