"She started before me along this path, and I hurry to catch her up. It is easy walking, neither hot nor cold, and I go with long strides, fast and pursuing. I shall never catch her: I know that. I shall never catch her, however much I hurry -- and I do hurry, press on hard without a moment's slackening of the strongest continual effort; and I go fast for all the weight of my pack. "I shall never catch her: but I have this, that I am on the ground that she has travelled. The 'never catching', that is less important now: we are divided by the distance, but the path is our connection; and I shall never let the distance grow." -- Patrick O'Brian,"The Path"