The Dispossessed(Hainish Cycle, #6)

by Ursula K. Le Guin

Whenever he saw an animal, the flight of birds, the splendor of autumn trees, that sadness came into him and gave delight a cutting edge.

“I’ve never been drawn to a woman in my life as I have been to you. Ever since we started this hike.” Shevek’s tone was cold, almost resentful. “I didn’t mean to spoil your vacation,” she said, with her large childish laugh, too loud for the twilight. “It doesn’t spoil it!” “That’s good. I thought you meant it distracted you.” “Distracted! It’s like an earthquake.” “Thank you.” “It’s not you,” he said harshly. “It’s me.” “That’s what you think,” she said. There was a longish pause. “If you want to copulate,” she said, “why haven’t you asked me?” “Because I’m not sure that’s what I do want.”

It was not “the real Urras.” The dignity and beauty of the room he and Efor were in was as real as the squalor to which Efor was native. To him a thinking man’s job was not to deny one reality at the expense of the other, but to include and to connect. It was not an easy job.

No man earns punishment, no man earns reward. Free your mind of the idea of deserving, the idea of earning, and you will begin to be able to think.”