Nabila Tabassum Chowdhury’s Reviews > The Secret of Secrets > Status Update

"First loves are important, she recalled a romantic movie once saying. Because they open our hearts for what’s to come."

"I need to give Sasha a safe haven, she thought. As safe as possible under the circumstances."

"A redundant, double-blind, dead man’s switch."

"As Nagel watched the jet approach, she felt increasing trust in Director Judd. Even so, her years at the CIA had taught Nagel the perils of blind faith. In the world of national security, the bond of trust— even the deepest of loyalty— was routinely betrayed when the needs of the country outweighed the needs of a few of her citizens. Serving the greater good had a nobility to it, but Nagel had done her time."

"On occasion Judd allowed himself to dream about a future where programs like Threshold unveiled proof of the interconnection between all human minds, ushering in a global community bound not by fear and rivalry, but by empathy and understanding… a world where the concept of national security was a relic of the past. For the moment, however, there was work to be done."

"Fortunately, Judd’s job was not to comprehend the nature of reality, but rather to harness its power to best serve his nation and to protect it."

"“The most important point in the research, however, shows that those who do not fear death, for whatever reason, tend to exhibit behavior that is more benevolent, accepting of others, cooperative, and caring about the environment. Essentially, this means that if we could all free our minds of the burden, of the terror we feel about death…”"

"“Unfortunately, it becomes a hall of mirrors. The worse things get, the worse we behave. And the worse we behave, the worse things get.”"

"“We flout authority, ignore social mores, steal from others to provide for ourselves, and become more materialistic. We even abandon our feelings of environmental responsibility because we sense the planet is a lost cause and we’re all doomed anyway.”"

"“Fear makes us selfish,” Katherine said. “The more we fear death, the more we cling to ourselves, our belongings, our safe spaces… to that which is familiar. We exhibit increased nationalism, racism, and religious intolerance.”"