Praise or damn as you please, but do so rather flatly, pragmatically, with cunning attention to annoying or gratifying details. Be yourself. Be unique. Be a good editor. The Universe needs more good editors, God knows.

I go on many thrilling adventures and wondrous, profound escapades through books.

What is the purpose of life?...To be the eyes and ears and conscience of the Creator of the Universe, you fool!

People have to talk about something just to keep their voice boxes in working order so they'll have good voice boxes in case there's ever anything really meaningful to say.

In the middle of Siberia I guess there's a lake that big [ like the Great Lakes], but there are practically no other lakes that big with fresh water.

The chief weapon of sea pirates, however, was their capacity to astonish. Nobody else could believe, until it was too late, how heartless and greedy they were.

That’s the attractive thing about war,” said Rosewater. “Absolutely everybody gets a little something.