The human capacity for grief. It just isn't capable of providing an adequate emotional response once the dead exceed a few dozen in number. And it doesn't just level off - it just gives up, resets itself to zero.

Victory loses its meaning without the memory of what you've vanquished.

Looking at where the planet is now, we could screw things up massively or we could wise-up on a species level and actually make things better. If I had to put my money where my mouth is, I think we'll wise up globally but there will still be outbreaks of local stupidity.

The cards always look different when it's your turn to play them; loaded with subtly different possibilities.

Autocratic governments are masters of self-contradiction. They say one thing, do another.

It’s the people who don’t worry—those who never have any doubts that what they’re doing is good and right—they’re the ones that cause the problems.

A city's only ever three hot meals away from anarchy.