Interesting problem, pain. So helpful, so obnoxious. - Vernor Vinge

She was obviously an idealist: that is, someone who can twist his every vice into self-righteous morality.

Civilizations rise and fall, but all technical civilizations know the greatest secrets now. They know which social mechanisms normally work, and which ones quickly fail. They know the means to postpone disaster and evade the most foolish catastrophes. They know that even so, each civilization must inevitably fall.

Being alone was something he was very good at. There was so much to learn.