While the forces of repression need to win every time, the progressive elements need only triumph once. - Iain Banks

Once one survives the trough that comes with the understanding that people are going to go on being stupid and cruel to each other no matter what, probably for ever – if one survives; many people choose suicide at this point instead – then one starts to take the attitude, Oh well, never mind.

The avatar laughed, raised his eyebrows at her. “Golly. What shall we do, Lededje?”
She thought. “The smartest thing?” she suggested.

All you ever were was a little bit of the universe, thinking to itself. Very specific; this bit, here, right now.