Bruce Lowther

“His own professional journey, since then, could be seen as the single-minded pursuit of weird stuff, and the shedding, at every opportunity, of all responsibilities that didn’t qualify as such.”
― Neal Stephenson, Fall; or, Dodge in Hell

“the gods have been kind to me through this life-style that would have killed an ox of a man and I’m no ox of a man.”
― Charles Bukowski, You Get So Alone At Times That It Just Makes Sense

“You’re just clever enough to be stupider than if you weren’t clever at all,”
― Neal Stephenson, Reamde

“Deep knowledge in all areas of the life of the state and its history, the ability to learn lessons from them, belief in the purity of his own cause and in ultimate victory, and an untamable strength of will give him the power of captivating oration that make the masses celebrate him…Thus we have a picture of the dictator: sharp in intellect, clear and honest, passionate yet under control, cool and bold, daring, decisive and goal-oriented, without qualms about the immediate execution of his plans, unforgiving towards himself and others, mercilessly hard yet tender in his love for his people, tireless in his work, with an iron fist clothed in a velvet glove, capable of triumphing over himself. We still don’t know when he will intervene to save us all, this “man.” But he is coming. Millions sense that.”
― Volker Ullrich, Hitler: Ascent: 1889-1939