“ The revolution proceeded routinely and according to the rules of networked 21st-century protest. Neal Stephenson
“ The mind couldn't think about the End of the World all the time. It needed the occasional break, a romp through the trivial. Neal Stephenson
“ Sergeant Major, Arjun said quietly, there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy. Yur snorted. Is that a fancy way of saying it’s above my pay grade, sir? Neal Stephenson
“ Sergeant Bobby Shaftoe, USMC, pours some beans into the grinder and starts to belabor the crank. A black flurry begins to accumulate in the coffeepot below. He has learned to make this stuff the Swedi… Neal Stephenson
“ My men think you are dead now, and won’t waste balls on you, Jack said. In fact I have let you live, but for one purpose only: so that you can make your way back to Paris and tell them the following:… Neal Stephenson
“ MEN WHO BELIEVE that they are accomplishing something by speaking speak in a different way from men who believe that speaking is a waste of time. Bobby Shaftoe has learned most of his practical knowle… Neal Stephenson
“ L1, by process of elimination, Luisa said drily, and laughed. You space people love to count down, I know your ways. It’s Neal Stephenson
“ It wasn’t just a matter of hiding what you really felt. If you hid your feelings well enough, it actually changed you. A Neal Stephenson
“ Fraa Jad took the garment from me and discovered how the fly worked. Topology is destiny, he said, and put the drawers on. Neal Stephenson
“ Every culture can be kind of defined by what they drink in order to avoid dying of diarrhea. In China it’s tea. In Africa it’s milk or animal blood. In Europe it was wine and beer. Neal Stephenson
“ Didn't happen anymore. Pizza delivery is a major industry. A managed industry. People went to CosaNostra Pizza University four years just to learn it. Came in its doors unable to write an English sent… Neal Stephenson
“ Diax said something that is still very important to us, which is that you should not believe a thing only because you like to believe it. We call that ‘Diax’s Rake’ and sometimes we repeat it to ourse… Neal Stephenson
“ Chester nods all the way through this, but does not rudely interrupt Randy as a younger nerd would. Your younger nerd takes offense quickly when someone near him begins to utter declarative sentences,… Neal Stephenson
