From Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea:

"Tell me just this, if it is not a secret: what other great powers are there beside the light?"

"It is no secret. All power is one in source and end, I think. Years and distances, stars and candles, water and wind and wizardry, the craft in a man's hand and the wisdom in a tree's root; they all arise together. My name, and yours, and the true name of the sun, or a spring of water, or an unborn child, all are syllables of the great word that is very slowly spoken by the shining of the stars. There is no other power. No other name."

"What of death?"

"For a word to be spoken, there must be silence. Before, and after."

just been going thru cryptonomicon again ... : )


... like trying to sell someone a rusty volkswagen that had been dismantled and had its parts hidden in attack dog kernels all over the world ...

... certain objects that are supposed to a) remain horizontal and b) support heavy things have ceased to do either ...

... would get more respect with a pogo stick and a propeller beanie on his head ...