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Epigraph Oh, wearisome condition of humanity,

Born under one law, to another bound;

Vainly begot, and yet forbidden vanity,

Created sick, commanded to be sound.

-Fulke Greville, Mustapha And do you think that unto such as you

A maggot-minded, starved, fanatic crew

God gave a secret, and denied it me?

Well, well - what matters it? Believe that, too!

-The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

(Richard Le Gallienne translation) Peacefully they will die, peacefully they will expire in your name, and beyond the grave they will find only death. But we will keep the secret, and for their own happiness we will entice them with a heavenly and eternal reward.

-The Grand Inquisitor to his "Savior" in

The Brothers Karamazov

Dedication For Ian McEwan

In serene recollection of

La Refulgencia

First words If the intended reader of this book should want to go beyond disagreement with its author and try to identify the sins and deformities that animated him to write it (and I have certainly noticed that those who publicly affirm charity and compassion and forgiveness are often inclined to take this course), then he or she will not just be quarreling with the unknowable and ineffable creator who - presumably - opted to make me this way.

Quotations The voice of Reason is soft. But it is very persistent. And here is the point, about myself and my co-thinkers. Our belief is not a belief. Our principles are not a faith. We do not rely solely upon science and reason, because these are necessary rather than sufficient factors, but we distrust anthing that contradicts science or outrages reason. ("Putting it Mildly")

Last words To clear the mind for the project, it has become necessary to know the enemy, and to prepare to fight it. (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

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