“In the Gestalt theory of perception this is known as the figure/groundrelationship. This theory asserts, in brief, that no figure is ever perceivedexcept in relation to a background.”

“The inquisition of public opinion overwhelms in practice the freedom asserted by the laws in theory.”

“I stopped trying to figure it out a long time ago. I'm never going to figure it out,any more than a normal person will figure out his or her own existence. After a while, you have to be at peace with the fact that you simply are. There is no way to know why. You can have theories, but there will never be proof.”

“Have you ever heard of the theory of relativity?"Artemis blinked. "Is this a joke? I have traveled through time, Doctor. I think I know a little something about relativity.”

“I don't know how this works. Or why. I stopped trying to figure it out a long time ago. I'm never going to figure it out, any more than a normal person figure out his or her own existence. After a while, you have to be at peace with the fact that you simply are. There is no way to know why. You can have theories, but there will never be proof.”

“The world can doubtless never be well known by theory: practice is absolutely necessary.”