Don't tell me you aren't the slightest bit curious, Norquinco." "I hope you burn in hell, Sky Haussmann." "I'll take that as a yes. - Alastair Reynolds

I imagine you feel insignificant," Sajaki said, almost as if he had been listening in on the conversation. "Well; you're justified in feeling that way. You are insignificant. That's the majesty of this place. Would you choose it any other way?

The problem was, although I was as certain as I could be that I was right, I could offer nothing to bolster my arguments.

But you seem so nonchalant about it all," Teal said.
Merlin pondered this for a few seconds. "Do you think being not nonchalant would make any difference? I don't know that it would. We're here in the moment, aren't we? And the moment will have its way with us, no matter how we feel about things."
"Fatalist."
"Cheerful realist. There's a distinction.