Speaker for the Dead (Ender Quintet Book 2)

by Orson Scott Card

Bosquinha and the Bishop watched them go. “When I woke up this morning,” Bosquinha said, “I didn’t expect to be a rebel before I went to bed.” “Nor did I ever imagine that the Speaker would be our ambassador to the piggies,” said the Bishop. “The question is,” said Dom Cristão, “will we ever be forgiven for it.” “Do you think we’re making a mistake?” snapped the Bishop. “Not at all,” said Dom Cristão. “I think we’ve taken a step toward something truly magnificent. But humankind almost never forgives true greatness.” “Fortunately,” said the Bishop, “humankind isn’t the judge that matters. And now I intend to pray for this boy, since medical science has obviously reached the boundary of its competence.”

When you really know somebody, you can’t hate them.” “Or maybe it’s just that you can’t really know them until you stop hating them.” “Is that a circular paradox? Dom Cristão says that most truth can only be expressed in circular paradoxes.” “I don’t think it has anything to do with truth, Olhado. It’s just cause and effect. We never can sort them out. Science refuses to admit any cause except first cause—knock down one domino, the one next to it also falls. But when it comes to human beings, the only type of cause that matters is final cause, the purpose. What a person had in mind. Once you understand what people really want, you can’t hate them anymore. You can fear them, but you can’t hate them, because you can always find the same desires in your own heart.”

“Are you sure she won’t try to get even? Are you sure she won’t try to wipe out humankind, starting with you?” “I’m as sure,” said Ender, “as I am of anything.” “Not absolutely sure,” said Olhado. “Sure enough to bring her back to life,” said Ender. “And that’s as sure as we ever are of anything. We believe it enough to act as though it’s true. When we’re that sure, we call it knowledge. Facts. We bet our lives on it.” “I guess that’s what you’re doing. Betting your life on her being what you think she is.” “I’m more arrogant than that. I’m betting your life, too, and everybody else’s, and I’m not so much as asking anyone else’s opinion.”