Cecil flashed a grin. "Quite. Plus your rather irritating habit of treating your superior officers as your, ah..." Cecil paused, apparently groping again for just the right word. "Equals?" Miles hazarded. "Cattle," Cecil corrected judiciously.

Whether you function as welders or inspectors, the laws of physics are implacable lie-detectors. You may fool men. You will never fool the metal.

Utterly bleak and black is not the sum of realism. All the other colors are real, too.

When the time comes to leap in faith whether you have your eyes open or closed or scream all the way down or not makes no practical difference.

Do it for yourself. The universe will be around to collect its cut later.

I wanted to give you a victory. But by their essential nature triumphs can’t be given.

Some prices are just too high, no matter how much you may want the prize. The one thing you can't trade for your heart's desire is your heart.