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21 " So why run? If the whole world was burning, why not face it with a beer in your hand, unafraid? "
― Paolo Bacigalupi , The Water Knife
22 " I don’t need books about how things used to be. Everybody talks about how things used to be. I need a book about how I’m supposed to live now. Unless you got a book like that, I don’t need the weight.” She "
23 " Lucy felt sick, listening to him. It was a view of the world that anticipated evil from people because people always delivered. And the worst part was that she couldn't really argue."Like there's something in our DNA," she murmured, 'that makes us into monsters.""Yeah. And we're all the same monsters," Angel said. "And it's just accidents that turn us one way or another, but once we turn bad, it takes a long time for us to try to be something different. "
24 " Desperate people did desperate things, became avatars of unexpected tragedy. "
25 " It’s the first rule of bureaucracy: any message worth sending is worth sending in triplicate. "
26 " The desert never forgot itself. A thin fall of winter rain was all that kept yucca and creosote blooming. If there was other life, it cowered alongside the banks of the few capillary rivers that braved the blazing lands and never strayed far. The desert never took water for granted. "
27 " What have you got on Case that makes you so untouchable?" Braxton asked. "She trusts me." Braxton laughed, disbelieving, as Angel put the injunctions back in order. Angel said, "People like you write everything down because you know everyone is a liar. It's how you lawyers do." He slapped Braxton in the chest with the legal documents, grinning. "And that's why Case trusts me and treats you like a dog - you're the one who writes things down. "
28 " ...the thing he said that stuck with me was that people are alone here in America. They're all alone. And they don't trust anyone except themselves, and they don't rely on anyone except themselves. He said that was why he thought India would survive all this apocalyptic shit, but America wouldn't. Because here, no knew their neighbors. "
29 " You get worked up about what’s right and wrong, but that shit’s only in your head. Rules are what the big dogs say they are. "
30 " If I could put my finger on the moment we genuinely fucked ourselves, it was the moment we decided that data was something you could use words like believe or disbelieve around.” He "
31 " You know what? No. I don’t give a damn about the lies. Lies are fine. Truth. Lies. One way or the other, at least—” She broke off again, shaking her head. “It’s not the lies. It’s the silence. Silence is what gets me. All the things you don’t say. All the words you don’t write. That gets to you. After a while it just kills you. All the stories you teach yourself not to tell. All the truth and lies that you never ever print because all of it is too dangerous. "
32 " You don’t believe data—you test data.” He grimaced. “If I could put my finger on the moment we genuinely fucked ourselves, it was the moment we decided that data was something you could use words like believe or disbelieve around. "
33 " Anyway, the thing he said that stuck with me was that people are alone here in America. They’re all alone. And they don’t trust anyone except themselves, and they don’t rely on anyone except themselves. He "
34 " You didn’t judge people for caving under pressure; "
35 " you judged them for those few times when they were lucky enough to have any choice at all. "
36 " If I could put my finger on the moment we genuinely fucked ourselves, it was the moment we decided that data was something you could use words like believe or disbelieve around. "
37 " We knew it was all going to go to hell, and we just stood by and watched it happen anyway. There ought to be a prize for that kind of stupidity.” “Maybe we knew, but we didn’t know how to believe,” Lucy suggested. “Belief.” He snorted. “I could kiss a thousand crosses. Fucking belief.” Again, bitterly: “Belief is for God. For love. For trust. I believe I can trust you. I believe you love me.” He quirked an eyebrow. “I believe God is looking down on us and laughing. "
38 " This was never about believing. You think someone like Catherine Case up in Vegas believes things? This was about looking and seeing. Pure data. You don’t believe data—you test data.” He grimaced. “If I could put my finger on the moment we genuinely fucked ourselves, it was the moment we decided that data was something you could use words like believe or disbelieve around. "
39 " Or maybe there never were any rules. Maybe all we have are habits. Things we do without even knowing why. "
40 " If she still felt guilt for her betrayals, well, that was her code. Angel had his own, and his code said that betrayals happened all the time, for small reasons and large. "