It's an ancient and honorable term for the final step in any engineering project. Turn it on, see if it smokes.

Endure pain, find joy, and make your own meaning, because the universe certainly isn't going to supply it.

They stared at her curiously, and she caught snatches of conversation in two or three languages. It wasn't hard to guess their content, and she smiled a bit primly. Youth, it appeared, was full of illusions as to how much sexual energy two people might have to spare while hiking forty or so kilometers a day, concussed, stunned, diseased, on poor food and little sleep, alternating caring for a wounded man with avoiding becoming dinner for every carnivore within range - and with a coup to plan for the end.

A weapon is a device for making your enemy change his mind.

If you make it plain you like people, it's hard for them to resist liking you back.

If you want to catch something, running after it isn't always the best way.

Honesty is the only way with anyone, when you'll be so close as to be living inside each other's skins.