Such people, while useful, even agreeable, to others, are, if truth be told, frequently unhappy–lonely in fact. Yes, they seek out others, and it may even seem to them that in a certain country or city they have managed to find true kinship and fellowship, having come to know and learn about a people; but they wake up one day and suddenly feel that nothing actually binds them to these people, that they can leave here at once. They realize that another country, some other people, have now beguiled them, and that yesterday’s most riveting event now pales and loses all meaning and significance. For all intents and purposes, they do not grow attached to anything, do not put down deep roots. Their empathy is sincere, but superficial. If asked which of the countries they have visited they like best, they are embarrassed–they do not know how to answer. Which one? In a certain sense–all of them. There is something compelling about each. To which country would they like to return once more? Again, embarrassment–they had never asked themselves such a question. The one certainty is that they would like to be back on the road, going somewhere. To be on their way again–that is the dream.

- Ryszard Kapuściński, Travels with Herodotus

Never forget you come from a long line of truth seekers, lovers and warriors.

- Hunter S. Thompson

No End (1985), dir. Krzysztof Kieślowski

NGC 6960. The Witch's Broom

There is no rest for the humble except in despising the great, whose only thought of the people is inspired by self-interest or sadism.

- Louis-Ferdinand Céline, Journey to the End of the Night

Babs Webb

The Entombment (detail). By Peter Paul Rubens, 1612

You could attach prices to thoughts. Some cost a lot, some a little. And how does one pay for thoughts? The answer, I think, is: with courage.

- Ludwig Wittgenstein, Culture and Value

A Mega-Cluster of Galaxies in the Making : Astronomers using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes have put together a detailed map of a rare collision between four galaxy clusters.

Forcing my thoughts into an ordered sequence is a torment for me.

- Ludwig Wittgenstein, Culture and Value

People don’t understand the word ruthless. They think it means ‘mean.’ It’s not about being mean. It’s about seeing the bright, clear line that leads from A to B. The line that goes from motive to means. Beginning to end. It’s about seeing that bright, clear line and not caring about anything but the beautiful fact that you can see the solution. Not caring about anything else but the perfection of it.

- Marco, Book #30: The Reunion, pg. 71 (by K.A. Applegate)

Astrid Nondal