And is adventure and sensation all we should seek, Meliadus?" "Aye—why not? All is chaos, there is no meaning to existence, there is only one advanta… - Michael Moorcock

Entropy's setting in. Or so they say."
"Why should that be true?"
"It's Time—it's all used up."
"This is metaphysical nonsense!"
"Very likely.

Evil flourishes best in disguise," said Otto grimly. His companions nodded in assent.
"And the best disguise is simple" said the youth, Federit Shaus. "Honest patriotism. Joyful idealism."
"You're a cynic, lad," von Bek smiled at him. "But sadly my own experience would support your view. Show me a man who cries 'my country right or wrong', and I'll show you one who'd cheerfully murder half his own nation in the name of patriotism.

And thank you, also, for the joke."
"The joke?"
"Why truly—the best joke is but a simple statement of truth."…
He mounted, flapped the reins, and, as the gray gelding broke into a trot he said to himself: "A joke indeed, but it is a pity that men do not laugh at it more often.