Slow Gods

We are the seeds of the forest, we blaze so bright, no life is special. No life is special. No life is special and all of them are. No love matters more than any other, no story is more important, nothing matters more, nothing matters less, so choose, choose, we choose every day to be more than just ourselves, to live for more than just ourselves, because it is beautiful. (p. 201)

telling my story, there are certain things I should perhaps lie about. (I am a dreadful liar.) I should make myself a hero. Pretend I knew certain things before I did, was not used by strangers and gods, did not leave people behind. I should claim that I understand love. This last is most important, and I am trying. I am always trying. Is that not enough?

Worship implies faith. It implies believing in something when there is either a) no evidence or b) confidence maintained despite strong evidence to the contrary.

Thus even in our feelings we find ways to embrace and reject each other, as if there were a true way to feel sorrow, a singular way to be in love.

This is a flaw I have observed many times – people will expend vast energies in ignoring the obvious terrifying thing because it terrifies them so.

The thing that is always forbidden in all wars… is thinking of your enemy as people.

We rely on other people to do so much thinking for us – to design our ships, farm our food, solve equations or write poetry to help us unravel our feelings – that in many ways to live anything but utterly alone is already to be part of a hive mind anyway.

It would take months of clearing, of traipsing back and forth – there was enough labour here to try and resurrect the ancient hover-sled, see if it remembered how to float, maybe order in some spare parts, but of course that wouldn’t solve the sheer monotony of the labour, of the to-and-fro that would be inevitable, that only a gardener could do. I found myself swelling with a mixture of pre-emptive fatigue and excitement at the prospect. What

THE CONCLUSION I CONSISTENTLY RETURN TO IS THIS: THAT IF ALL LIFE IS MEANINGLESS

Big emotion is not the same as big empathy. Indeed

If all things burn to nothing in the blink of the proverbial eye, then of all the possible reasons why they blaze, all the possible ways in which they may live, it might as well be with love.

So… the important thing is your genitals?” Gebre blurted

there had been a time when learning was our sacred trust. That time had passed

the necessity of social bonding is so strong that to not understand the local rules of hospitality is an immediate warning sign

YOU MAY ALSO ONE DAY BE A GOD

Did the natives of this station welcome in you one mothership at a time

it is not acceptable to ask these things at a first encounter. First there must be small talk

THERE IS NO WORD IN NORMSPEAK, IN MDO-SO, IN ADJUMIRI TO EXPRESS THE LOVE THAT IS REQUIRED TO CHANGE A WORLD. IT IS A UNIVERSAL LOVE FOR ALL CREATURES, ALL LIVING THINGS. IT DEMANDS NOT THAT YOU FIGHT FOR THE ONE PERSON WHO IS DEAR TO YOUR HEART, BUT THAT YOU LET THEM PERISH IF TWO OTHERS MAY LIVE. IT IS THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR A STRANGER. THIS IS THE LOVE THAT A GOD SHOULD HAVE, AND IT IS BEAUTIFUL, AND IT IS UNFORGIVING, AND IT IS IT CRUEL.

It seemed to me that feeling strongly was a substitute for actually being able to do something.

Time is meaningless in the dark. Time is arguably meaningless in the loose conglomeration of sensory agreement that people call “reality

I am… susceptible to expectations. Everyone is

If all that was left of us was a story, what would we want that story to say?

The kekekee of B48TCLM1 are born in the clouds and live their entire lives without touching the ground. Their sentience was initially missed

Certainly I know that if a man expects me to die

In other words: most sentient creatures of the galaxy are capable of recognising other sentient creatures

You can remember the difference between innumerable different types of sausage or sporting teams

All are born equal, and by their labours shall they rise.

We are the seeds of the forest