People From Liverpool

"“Then how is it done?” “By magic, I suppose. How else?” “That is a foolish and flippant answer,” he said. “‘Oh, it’s magic,’ is not a handy solution to every mystery. I am not the child.”"

"“Could Rievor be hiding himself behind some magical cloak?” I asked my other self. “No,” he said. “I believe he is exercising that most potent form of invisibility: the one called, ‘not being present at all.’”"

"“I do not wish to experience that again.” “Some people claim that the occasional exposure to fear enhances their enjoyment of more tranquil circumstances.” “Some people ought to be confined for their own good,” my assistant said, “and to prevent them from spreading dangerous inanities.”"

"“Then you will have to look at an experienced integrator.” “You mean a used and discarded one.” “We could quibble over narrow distinctions and shades of meaning all day, only to greet the evening with nothing accomplished. Or we could press on and solve your problem.”"

"“Isn’t it obvious?” he answered. “No. It is so far from obvious that it has gone right through obscure, breezed past unfathomable and is now completely beyond the reach of my vocabulary.”"

"“You’re worried, aren’t you?” he said. “Again, you have chosen a word not large enough to cover more than the barest fraction of the situation.”"

"“You ask if anyone has ‘tested the concept.’ But why would anyone test reality? Reality is not for testing, but for living with.”"

"“We should be frank with each other,” Lavelan said. It had been my experience that most conversations that were launched on such a declaration represented an attempt by the initiator to gain far more information than he intended to give."

"I had no doubt that there was madness here. How could it be otherwise in a cosmos that was ordered solely by will? It did not mean that the insane would automatically rise to the apex of the social order; their efforts would be diffused by the randomness of the impulses that drove them. But those whose extraordinary powers of will propelled them to the heights of power and rank would always be vulnerable to going further than they should. And there would be none but their equally mad rivals to restrain them."

"My intent was to spot not only Massim Shar’s cut-out but the other member of his criminal coterie who would be there to watch our transaction. There might even be a watcher to watch the watcher, trust being a commodity in short supply among the lawless.”"

"“The likelihood seems farfetched.” “So have several of the situations in which we have found ourselves in the recent past,” I said. “But you are resolved to avoid those kinds of situations in the future.” I made a gesture ripe with fatalism. “I have come to understand that the universe accords my resolutions a good deal less consideration than I would prefer.”"

"“Very well,” I said, “let us roll the pebble and get the avalanche on its way.”"

"But from its inception, the labor movement had attracted the same range of opportunists and self-servers as would any activity that offered the unscrupulous an avenue toward power and self-enrichment."

"“Down among your... population, in addition to labor organizers, you’re bound to have a few public relations consultants.” “Quite a few,” said the Archfiend. “It’s a field that rewards amoral inventiveness.”"

"“This conversation would be more easily conducted,” said Filidor, “if I had any notion of what you are talking about.”"

"She could be—he hoped would be—what he had always lacked: a center to the map of his life, that one, necessary fixed point from which he could navigate out into the world and by which he could always find his way back home again."

"For an activity to qualify as an instance of independent learning it must exhibit learner control over the direction of learning efforts, even if this is temporarily submerged in order to acquire specific skills."

"When all the good ideas have been expended, I quoted to myself, one might as well try a bad one."

"The independent learners in the sample surveyed were seen to adopt a number of possible learning styles, to engage in a planning of intermediate and terminal learning goals; to generate subjective and objective indices of evaluation and to devise patterns of problem solving. They were adept at using existing information sources to their advantage and created learning networks of fellow enthusiasts for the exchange of advice and information."

"I realized that Chumblot’s brief had told only the official story which, as in many sophisticated societies, departed starkly from the practical facts."

"“Are you familiar with Wallader’s theory that every society is fundamentally organized around one or another of the cardinal sins?” “I believe not,” I said. “He argues that the true seed of every culture, whatever the ideals to which it gives lip service, always turns out to be one of the seven mortal iniquities identified by the ancients: pride, greed, and anger are the most common; lust, gluttony, and envy less so; those based on sloth usually do not last.”"

"It is as hugely irrelevant to us as the literary outpourings of a poet are to a bacterium living in his lower bowel. Indeed, to an even tinier mite living in the bacterium’s vacuole. It just doesn’t matter."

"“I am not one to deny the broadening effects of distant lands,” offered Nofreg, “yet I have often said that the chief benefit of travel is to allow the returned sojourner a renewed appreciation of his native milieu.”"

"Into the Zeelotic ethos, we have injected the philosophical axiom—well known to the field of fashion—that the outmoded only remains so until it becomes unremembered, after which it may justly return as the avant-garde."

"Have you considered the possibility that our standards as to what is important may differ?"

"“There was no indication of anything sinister?” “No, though a truly sinister intrusion would be phrased in such a way as to appear not sinister.” “That is not reassuring,” I said."

"Coming whence you do, you doubtless assume that the mores and customs of your own land arise from the workings of simple human nature. But human nature is far from simple, and what appears natural in your own milieu may seem chillingly alien when transported into some foreign sphere."

"“In any case”—he gestured at the car—“this vehicle has achieved a state of permanent inanimation.”"

"“That does not sound like I’m getting an answer soon.” “We’re glad you understand.” “No,” says Jason, “I don’t understand!” “Then we’re sorry you don’t understand.”"

"The resident said, “I have heard it argued that the world as it is now arranged must be the right order of things, for a competent Creator would not allow disequilibrium.” Grolion found the concept jejeune. “My view is that the world is an arena in which men of deeds and courage drive the flow of events.”"

"A research scientist is someone who cannot rest content within the confines of existing knowledge, but always itches to know what is over the horizon. Or it’s somebody who doesn’t know to leave well enough alone."

"To me, the human body was not a quasi-metaphysical mystery to be unraveled. It was a kind of soft machine whose parts could be repaired when they broke down, or—even better—replaced entirely with materials God would have used if He’d only had access to teflon and stainless steel."

"“I will give you,” said Grolion, “a promissory note for a handsome sum, redeemable the moment I am restored to my birthright.” “The restoration of your fortunes, though no doubt inevitable, is not guaranteed to arrive before the sun goes out.”"

"The resident made a casual gesture. “These are matters of history, of which our old Earth has already far too much. We need not consider them.” “True,” said Grolion, “we have only now. But some ‘nows’ are connected to particularly pertinent ‘thens’ and the prudent man takes note of the connections.”"

"The young man glanced at the document. His first thought was that its author must have learned penmanship from a seismograph."

"In adolescence, Chesney had drifted away from old-time religion. He found too many contradictions and absurdities in scripture. Besides, he had found a more reliable truth in the elegant architectures of mathematics."

"Does not the acceptance of a spurious perfection end the search for true perfection?"

"“We all use the world, and are used by it,” he said, after a moment. “Some of us are more aware than others of using and being used. It is our fortune to have fewer illusions.”"

"“From within such a calcified culture, no change can be generated; the impetus for reform must arise from without. Hence, the external threat posed by Hunan Diath.” “Who does not exist,” said Filidor. “Who need not exist,” said Gaskarth, “so long as the idea can do its work.”"

"“I disagree,” said Jenbo Lal. “Disagreeability is your forte,” said Gaskarth."

"Well, as I say, authority is always lawfully relinquished, but sometimes the legitimacy is acquired after the relinquishment. “You mean retroactively?” I mean that cause and effect are not always arranged in an ideal sequence. “In other words,” Filidor translated, “not only do victors write the histories, but usurpers also rewrite the rule book to justify the illicit seizure of office.” Perhaps not the most felicitous manner of putting it, but essentially correct. “I am surprised the people put up with such shenanigans. They should rise up.” Unwittingly, I am sure, you put your finger on the flaw in your own reasoning. “How so?” You said, “They should rise up,” not “We should rise up.” As long as it is a matter to be solved by others, it will not be."

"The direct approach is not always the wisest strategy, as those who have fallen off mountains can testify."

"Assigning blame is a fixation of an ineffective mind."

"As ever, you vainly grasp at diaphanous vastness while the tangible turns to mist in your hands."

"Talking was only one of the uses to which Chalivire liked to put her large and loose-lipped mouth; another was filling it with the products of The Braid’s renowned kitchens."

"“What is your theory?” my assistant asked, but again I declined to answer. A mistaken theory that never went farther than its originator’s mind does not count as an error."

"Also, there was a remarkable display of objects that primitive humanity had allegedly thrust through various parts of their bodies—some of them extremely sensitive—for decorative effect. I shuddered slightly at the thought: self-mutilation, though everyone’s right, had always taken me aback."

"A lifelong habit of being right also had the effect of diminishing one’s social appeal, especially among those who prefer to keep the bubble of their various illusions a safe distance from a needle-sharp and probing intelligence."

"My alter ego was awake and listening. “Magic,” he said. “To one whose only instrument is a drum, all melodies are much the same,” I answered inwardly."

"“Knowledge can be a hindrance to right action,” answered the little man. “There are those who hold that, if we but knew the full ramifications of even our least deeds, the ensuing concatenations of cause and effect would paralyze us with indecision.”"