“As natural selection acts by competition, it adapts the inhabitants of each country only in relation to the degree of perfection of their associates; so that we need feel no surprise at the inhabitants of any one country, although on the ordinary view supposed to have been specially created and adapted for that country, being beaten and supplanted by the naturalised productions from another land.”

“How different each death is, and yet it leads us into the self-same country, that country which we inhabit so rarely, where we see the worthlessness of what we have long pursued and will so soon return to pursuing.”

“China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese. ”

“If we pant after higher improvement and higher attainments, it is not sufficient to view ourselves as we suppose that we are viewed by others. . . . Because each by-stander may have his own prejudices, beside the prejudices of his age or country. We should rather endeavor to view ourselves as we suppose that Being views [us].”

“Expats of any country are quick to lose their sense of humour, beaten down by a lifetime of defending the land they no longer live in.”

“Axiom: you are a sea. Your eye-lids curve over chaosMy handswhere they touch you, createsmall inhabited islandssoon you will beall earth: a known land, a country.”