Megan

“At the base of the immense pillar, tiny Babylon was in shadow. Then the darkness climbed the tower, like a canopy unfurling upward. It moved slowly enough that Hillalum felt he could count the moments passing, but then it grew faster as it approached, until it raced past them faster than he could blink, and they were in twilight... For the first time, he knew night for what it was: the shadow of the earth itself, cast against the sky.”
― Ted Chiang, Stories of Your Life and Others

“Body in the abyss, heart in paradise.”

[...] If the crown prince were to see the remnants of those words, he would probably be the first one to rush to destroy what was left.

The person who had said those words had personally proven that when the body is in the abyss, the heart could not be in paradise.

He ascended to the heavens quickly, but his fall from grace was even faster.”
― Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù, 天官赐福 [Tiān Guān Cì Fú]

“But... you won't... be able to rest in peace like this?" Hua Cheng answered, "I pray to never rest in peace.”
― Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù

“If you don't know the meaning to your life, then make me that meaning, and use me as the reason to live.”
― Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù, Heaven Official's Blessing