“We’re inferring from an absence of data,” Jacque said. “That’s lousy science.” - Joe Haldeman

“But all I have is hearsay, passed on by others of my kind.”
“Including this ‘nameless’ stuff,” I said.
“That’s true. And at various times in my life, I’ve wondered whether it might not be a delusion—some sort of fiction that we share. Like a religion: there’s no way you or I could prove that the nameless don’t exist.”

Fathers and daughters don’t communicate that well even when alien languages and secret conspiracies aren’t involved.

“That’s an improvement?”
“Who can say? But that’s revolution: throw the old set of bastards out and install your own set. At least it’ll be different.”