Change and growth cannot be halted, time must run on. That is the whole moral of the three books. - Mervyn Peake

His days were full of meaningless ceremonies whose sacredness appeared to be in inverse ratio to their comprehensibility or usefulness.

There is something about a swarm that is damaging to the pride of its individual members.

What had happened? As he asked himself the question, he knew the answer. That no one had thought fit to tell him! No one! It was a bitter pill for him to swallow. He had been forgotten. Yet he had always wished to be forgotten. He could not have it both ways.