And now you have had to alter your theory. "Well," Andrews said, smiling, "that's science." - Paul J. McAuley

We must remember that they are alien.
"That's hardly a basis for speculation now. It explains everything and nothing."

We wish not to be alone in the universe, Dorthy, and this drives people to invent things that are not really there.

I read in some of it (the reference is to Shakespeare). It's not so bad when you get used to it, pretty archaic though. Why do you like old stuff like this?
"It has everything in it, if you look hard enough," Dorthy said, taking the sheaf. "Love, jealousy, avarice, loyalty, murder, madness...I find it reassuring that human nature is so constant."