The world of maps is nice and flat and simple. It has areas for people and areas for monsters. What a shock it is to discover the world is round and the areas merge and nothing separates the monsters and ourselves; that we are all whirling around in space together and there isn't even a graceful way of falling off.

the emotions at death, as at birth, are instinctive and primitive.

Violence is the instinctive response to fear.

the smell of lilacs crept poignantly into the room like a remembered spring.

Don't borrow trouble. The interest is too high.

People, alas, are more impressed by statistics than they are by ideas.

The world of maps is nice and flat and simple. It has areas for people and areas for monsters. What a shock it is to discover the world is round and the areas merge and nothing separates the monsters and ourselves; that we are all whirling around in space together and there isn't even a graceful way of falling off.