It had been his experience that the worst cynics all started out as idealists. - Jack McDevitt

Maybe the universe doesn’t approve of places like New York.

He was a decent enough guy, but he was always at his worst when he was trying to be sincere.

We can create the appearance of knowledge, the illusion of knowing how to grapple with a problem. Far too many educational systems have done exactly that. The result is generations of mouthpieces who can pour forth approved responses to programmed stimuli that contribute nothing to rational discussion. Dogma is for those who only wish to be comfortable. Catechisms are for cowards; commandments, for control freaks who have so little respect for their species that they are driven to appeal to a higher power to keep everyone in line.