“You agreee with me that the situation is a lulu? Certainly, a somewhat sharp crisis in your affairs would appear to have been precipitated, Sir.”

“He screamed.Mmm?' inquired the gentleman.I...I would never presume to interrupt you, sir. But the ground appears to be swallowing me up.'It is a bog,' said the gentleman, helpfully.It is certainly a most terrifying substance.”

“in the midst of war and crisis nothing is as clear or as certain as it appears in hindsight”

“If being prepared for death entails knowing when and where it will happen, the odds are you will not be prepared. Not only are you bound to die and leave this world; you are bound to leave it in such a precipitate fashion that the present significance of anything ― your relationships, your plans for the future, your hobbies, your possessions ― will appear to have been totally illusory.”

“If you become involved in a crisis situation, you will not rise to the occasion but, rather, default to your level of training.”

“I would have been embarrassed to have been caught in such a compromising situation. Promise me you won’t ever kiss me like that again.” He tittered.”