Again time passed. In one of the remoter galaxies a supernova flamed, and on a rocky, barren world a small living thing squirmed experimentally—and t… - Murray Leinster

Eminent men were called on to take command and arrange suitable measures. They immediately acted as eminent men so often do; they took action to retain their eminence. Their first instinct was caution. When a man is important enough, it does not matter if he never does anything. It is only required of him that he do nothing wrong. Eminent figures all over the world prepared to do nothing wrong. They were not so concerned to do anything right.

Twilight remained, a fairy half-light in which all things looked much more charming than they really were.

I've got an impossible job on my hands," he told them, "and if I succeed at it, there's an inconceivable one to follow.