Too much change is as destructive as too little. Only at the edge of chaos can complex systems flourish.

The unpredictability of not having their needs met in a timely, judicious fashion was not only frightening, it was potentially life-threatening.

With so much chaos, someone will do something stupid. And when they do, things will turn nasty

The West may collapse very suddenly. Complex civilizations do that, because they operate, most of the time, on the edge of chaos.

It was a bizarre happening, an unprecedented situation, a grotesque situation, an almost unbelievable mischance.

issues arise with unprecedented and dangerous consequences and practices

Our interest's on the dangerous edge of things. The honest thief, the tender murderer, the superstitious atheist.

Our interest's on the dangerous edge of things. The honest thief, the tender murderer, The superstitious atheist.

Real danger is nothing more than just living. Of course, living is merely the chaos of existence, but more than that it's a crazy mixed-up business of dismantling existence instant by instant to the point where the original chaos is restored, and taking strength from the uncertainty and the fear that chaos brings to re-create existence instant by instant. You won't find another job as dangerous as that. There isn't any fear in existence itself, or any uncertainty, but living creates it.

Many unfortunate human situations unfold [...] where people who face very bad options take desperate gambles, accepting a high probability of making things worse in exchange for a small hope of avoiding a large loss. Risk taking of this kind often turns manageable failures into disasters.

The greatest danger is panic

In a 50-50 life or death crisis, choose death.

Our circumstance is abject, indefensible, and terrifying. It would be hilarious if the stakes were not so high.

Coercion cannot but result in chaos in the end.