19 quotes
Of course there were no miracles to be had, except of the modest kind permitted by the exigencies of medicine and time.
Poseidon's Wake (2015)
I can’t stop being a rationalist just because it upsets some people.
Poseidon's Wake (2015)
If I’ve learned one thing in my long existence, it’s that hesitation gets you nowhere.
Poseidon's Wake (2015)
“Clearly we missed something.”
“You have a fine talent for understatement.”
Poseidon's Wake (2015)
We have all made mistakes. The mark of intelligence is to learn from them, and not be bound by the errors of the past.
Poseidon's Wake (2015)
Half of all the great art and literature in existence went unrecognised during the lifetimes of its creators.
Poseidon's Wake (2015)
It was a fault of the human condition—or perhaps a blessing—that there was no situation which did not eventually become the normal state of affairs.
Poseidon's Wake (2015)
Kanu closed his eyes, opened them again, hoping that the world would have done the decent thing and changed into a less problematic version of itself.
Poseidon's Wake (2015)
I’m not on the side of elephants or people, Goma. I’m on the side against stupidity.
Poseidon's Wake (2015)
“I’d argue with you, but I suspect it would feel a bit like arguing with myself.”
“Futile?”
“Boring.”
Poseidon's Wake (2015)
“You weren’t there.”
“I didn’t have to be—I know my history.”
Poseidon's Wake (2015)
Oh, I’m not perfect—not by a long stretch. I just make the rest of you look bad.
Poseidon's Wake (2015)
“Are you impressed?” Goma dared ask.
“I don’t really do impressed. But consider yourselves the recipients of grudging approval.”
Poseidon's Wake (2015)
The sense of squandered possibility, of better paths now lost to them all, filled him with a sudden rising sadness. He wondered if it was too late to make something better of their world.
Poseidon's Wake (2015)
“Now you’re scaring me.”
“If you were not scared, you don’t understand the situation.”
Poseidon's Wake (2015)
“For all you know, no one even remembers what you did by now.”
“No one remembers anything, in the end.”
Poseidon's Wake (2015)
Goma shook her head. “No. We don’t speak of souls. Not now, not ever. Souls aren’t real.”
“Patterns, then. Abstract structures of experience and reaction, making up a consistent, continuous human identity.”
Poseidon's Wake (2015)
Believe me, Kanu—the one thing you don’t do in emergencies is think things through. Thinking things through gets you a headstone and a nice epitaph. She thought things through. See how that worked out for her.
Poseidon's Wake (2015)
“Ideology is all there is.”
“Really? I would have thought there were many other human qualities worth considering. Fairness. Generosity. A sense of humour. A willingness to see the best in people, even those we do not automatically agree with.”
Poseidon's Wake (2015)