Rueben Laurance

“We give meaning to life based on our point of view. Only wisdom, like the light of the candle, can bring us a complete view of existence. The key to wisdom is doubt! If you doubted a little, you would definitely be less arrogant.”
― Marjane Satrapi, Chicken with Plums

“Let’s get to know each other. My name’s William, William More, but you can call me Willy. I’m an engineer-chemist who graduated from MIT. So . . . but you’re all alike to me . . . of course, you would be . . . you’re robots. And all your names are that sort of, um . . . codes, technical numbers . . . I need some marker where I can pick you out. Well, well, to you I’ll call . . .,” and Willy pondered for a moment, “Gumball, yes, Gumball! Do you mind?” “No, sir, actually no,” CSE-TR-03 said, agreeing with its new given name. “Ah, that’s wonderful. And then you’re Darwin,” Willy said, accosting the second robot. “Look what a nice name—Darwin! What do you say, eh?” “What can I say, sir? I like it,” CSE-TR-02 agreed too. “Yes, a human name with a past . . . You and Gumball . . . are from the same family, the Methanesons!” “It turns out thus, sir,” Darwin confirmed its family belonging. “And you’re like Larry. You’re Larry. Do you know that?” More addressed the next robot in line. “Yes, sir, just now I learned that,” the third robot said, accepted its name as well.”
― Todor Bombov, Homo Cosmicus 2: Titan: A Science Fiction Novel

“To
Fading self

The fear that life will shatter again
And the pieces you glue; will not be the same.”
― Yarro Rai, Abyss :

“Just a moment Mrs. Olmsted, Ma’am. I haven’t finished yet. I need to ask you a couple more questions.”
She turned back to face the detective, her tears subsiding.
“Could you tell me where you’ve been for the last several hours?”
“Where I’ve been?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“My husband is lying here dead, and you have the audacity to ask me where I’ve been?”
― Behcet Kaya, Murder in Buckhead