If you're paying attention to your wardrobe, Rudy believed, your mind isn't sufficiently occupied.

The queen of virtues is the recognition of one's own flaws.

How does it happen that the most intractable types always rise to the top?

Man has always seen himself the peak of creation. The part of the universe that thinks. The purpose for it all. It's no doubt a gratifying view, but the universe may have a different opinion.

The uplifters are forever running around telling blockheads they would do better if they would believe in themselves. But they already do. That is why they are blockheads.

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.

Truth, beaten down, may well rise again. But there's a reason it gets beaten down. Usually, we don't like it very much.