I took all these details in as the mighty carnivore looked me over, yawned, and paced majestically toward me… — Keith Laumer

Judge a chap on what he does, and not what he is, eh? None of us can help our natural tendencies—and perhaps overcoming one’s instincts is in the end a nobler achievement than not having the impulse in the first place.

I know it’s hard to grasp at first. I seem to recall I was a bit difficult to convince once. We are accustomed to thinking we know everything. There’s a powerful tendency to just disbelieve anything that doesn’t fit the preconception.

“I say, old man, you’re developing something of a persecution complex, I’m afraid—”

“That’s easy, when you’re persecuted.”