“Experienced divers learn roughly how far they travel underwater for every fin-kick cycle, or for every 10 cycles.”

Eric Douglas, Going Down with the Ship

“Why should not a complaint be listened to with cheerfulness; why must one wear a doleful face instead of a smile?”

Hermann Hesse, Magister Ludi – The Glass Bead Game

“Even among experienced divers, there are different ways to signal the same thing.”

Eric Douglas, Going Down with the Ship

“… the most useful position is the one that prompt people to test an idea and perhaps think for themselves by disagreeing.”

Rebecca Solnit, Sontag and Tsunami

“Life is shit.”

Robert Cormier, The Chocolate War

“Life is sad, sometimes.”

Robert Cormier, The Chocolate War

“And when you say ‘Jesus,’ you’re talking about your leader. But when I say ‘Jesus,’ I’m talking about a guy who walked the earth for thirty-three years like any other guy but caught the imagination of some PR cats. PR for Public Relations, in case you don’t know, Obie.”

Robert Cormier, The Chocolate War