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“The reality is that only 5 percent of all money is created by governments in the form of cash in circulation.”
“The remaining 95 percent of money is created by commercial banks whenever they extend credit to a borrower.”
“Because in the modern world money does not represent value, Mr. Tighe—money represents debt. And the more debt that is created in the world, the more money there is.”
“Banks lend only the principal. However, loans must be repaid plus interest—and with long-term loans like mortgages, the total interest payments far exceed the principal itself. Unless the overall money supply keeps growing, there will never be enough money to pay back all the loans plus interest.
“Most shocking to the layman is the fact that repaying debt destroys money. If most debts were paid off, far from helping the economy, it would increasingly paralyze it. No debt would mean there was no money.”
“Debt powers modern economies, which is why it is constantly growing. The greater the debt, the larger the money supply, the more economic activity—but also the more interest that needs to be repaid to keep the system running.” Korrapati looked grim. “So at the very time that climate change threatens to destroy human civilization, our economic system compels us to pursue ever-greater business growth—which will eventually become impossible.”
Joyce studied Tighe. “I don’t want responsible people—I want reliable people.”
“It’s a sad fact that some individuals don’t function well in everyday life but excel under extreme circumstances. I think you’re one of those individuals.”
“My good friend Richard Oberhaus, he said cave diving stripped away the impedimenta of life.
“Cosmic rays. Older people are less susceptible to cumulative radiation exposure. Most of you will die of old age before you develop more serious cancers.”
‘wanderlust gene,’ DRD4-7R. This gene is highly correlated with a desire for novel experiences. Many
The robo-dog had a “face” of sensors at the front of its body, and a swirling orange orb flashing on its back. A glowing number 4 was emblazoned on both flanks. It stopped in front of the group. “This is Spot! See Spot run!”
Viewed objectively, this was a simple exercise. The height was only an issue if he fell—and if he took care, he would not fall. Thus, the height was irrelevant.
John F. Kennedy said these words: ‘There is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict in space as yet. Its hazards are hostile to us all. Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and its opportunity for peaceful cooperation may never come again.’”
Here on Earth you lawyers say that possession is nine-tenths of the law. Well, Lukas, in space I think possession is going to be more like 99.99999 percent of the law. Space is a goddamned frontier. What’s the use of going to a frontier if it has rules?”
Personally, I find the respect of enemies to be sweeter than friendship. And certainly more honest—nobody ever lies about hating you.”
Chindarkar’s laughter came in over the comm link. “You look like a couple of astronauts beating the shit out of a robot.” Tighe went with it. “You pay . . . on the first of the month . . . like everybody else!” He kept kicking.
“This is my purpose. This has always been the purpose of people like us. We blaze trails. We chart oceans. We push back frontiers. Without us, humanity slowly dies.”
It’s sometimes easy to forget that the purpose of life isn’t just to stay alive.”
who’s James Caird?” “He was a prosperous textile manufacturer in 1870s Scotland.” “Okay . . . I’m as big a fan of nineteenth-century textile manufacturers as the next guy, but why are we naming our return spacecraft after one?” “Mr. Caird had another small vessel named after him—it was a lifeboat. Ernest Shackleton piloted that lifeboat across 800 miles of Antarctic sea, amid terrible storms, to find a tiny dot of land: South Georgia Island. The journey of the James Caird was considered one of the greatest feats of small-boat navigation in all human history.”
“Forty days of crawling? Maybe space is like caving.”
