He’d spent too long being disappointed by the world—he’d spent so many years pining for something like this, some proof that the real world wasn’t the only world, and coping with the overwhelming evidence that it in fact was.

I know enough of the world now to have almost lost the capacity of being much surprised by anything

He could tell that the other expected him to be surprised, but it was not in him to be surprised because it was no more surprising to him when things did not fall out as they were supposed to than when they did.

That life had been one without excitement, with no adventure. It had been too safe. All the elements that made it up were right there before his eyes, and nothing new could ever be expected. It was like, he had once thought, a little plastic boat that would sail on forever, without incident, until it finally sank, which would be a secret relief to all.

Surely people should eventually cease to be surprised at anything? And yet they continue to be.

Paran shook his head, his only surprise the realization that nothing surprised him anymore.

It was too late - everything was too late. For years now he had dreamed the world away, basing his decisions upon emotions unstable as water.

Everything in his life now seemed to signal: too late.

You should not be surprised at whatever you see or hear...If you are ready to accept things as they are, you will receive them as old friends.

He seemed to be so used to having his own way that he could not deal with bad fortune.

He was old and wise, which meant tired and disappointed...

Too often, it occurs to him that he’s lived just long enough to have completely outlived the world that made sense to him, the world where he fit. He’s as good as a goddamn dinosaur.