He’d grown a mustache since Randall had last seen him. It was hard to — Jack McDevitt

"At night the sea is very loud, And voices ride the tide. At another time, in another place, Beneath the silent moon, We laughed together."

"Technological civilizations don’t last long. Youre all right until you get a printing press. Then a race starts between technology and common sense. And maybe technology always wins."

"Yes, it was not journalism’s finest hour. But, MacAllister often argued, it never had been."

"We’re talking about something we all want very much to find. And that automatically makes Ed’s conclusions suspect."

"“Im not optimistic,” he said. “The issue clearly flies in the face of the First Amendment. People have a right to tell kids whatever they want about religion.” “Do they have a right to push human sacrifice?” “Of course not, Mac. But this isn’t human sacrifice. It’s just a church school.” “Im not sure the effect isn’t similar.”"

"So we have progressed to the point where we can move politicians around faster than light. Im not sure I see the advantage."