Well, societies without a plan, that was history so far; but history so far had been a nightmare, a huge compendium of examples to be avoided. - Kim Stanley Robinson

Michael was so stubbornly optimistic that it made him stupid sometimes, or at least painful to be around.

History till now has been like women's periods, a little egg of possibility, hidden in the ordinary material of life, with tiny barbarian hordes maybe charging in, trying to find it, failing, fighting each other—finally a bloody mess ends that chance, and everything has to start all over.

It was a mistake to speak one’s mind at any time, unless it perfectly matched your political purpose; and it never did. Best to strip all statements of real content, this was a basic law of diplomacy.