Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha Quotes

“That’s what terrorism is, basically—pure theater. Nothing in particular is ever accomplished by it, other than to focus attention on a small group of people who seize absolute power by threatening everything that holds civilization together.”
― Dorothy Gilman, Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha

“make sense out of a world that could produce trips to the moon and silicon chips and computer robots and satellites, yet never touch the impoverished hearts that could still torture, terrorize and kill without mercy or feeling.”
― Dorothy Gilman, Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha

“Should. Ought. Scenarios again, she thought crossly, which was how the mind persistently worked, using facts and assumptions left over from the past to draw conclusions that were frequently in error.”
― Dorothy Gilman, Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha

“integral sayings of Zen Buddhism is, ‘Do the best you can and then walk on.”
― Dorothy Gilman, Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha

“But terrorists—” He shook his head. “They’re the parasites of the century. They want to make a statement, they simply toss a bomb or round up innocent people to hold hostage, or kill without compunction, remorse or compassion.”
― Dorothy Gilman, Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha

“Mrs. Pollifax measured intelligence by curiosity, rueing people who never asked questions, never asked why, or what happened next or how.”
― Dorothy Gilman, Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha

“Drama!" said Mr. Hitchens.

Robin Shrugged. "That's what terrorism is, basically--pure theater. Nothing in particular is ever accomplished by it, other than to focus attention on a small group of people who seize absolute power by threatening everything that holds civilization together."

"Absolute power," mused Mrs. Pollifax. "Like monstrous children thumbing their noses at adults who live by codes and laws and scruples."

Robin said in a hard voice, "In my line of work I've tangled with narcotic dealers and suppliers--that's Interpol's job--and I can say of them that at least they give value for their money. If what they sell destroys human lives their victims cooperate by choice in their own destruction, and if drug dealers bend and break every law in the book they at least know the laws.

"But terrorists--" He shook his head. "They're the parasites of the century. They want to make a statement, they simply toss a bomb or round up innocent people to hold hostage, or kill without compunction, remorse or compassion. If they need money, they simply rob a bank. I have to admit not only my contempt for them," he added, "but my fear, too, because their only passion is to mock and to destroy, and that really is frightening.”
― Dorothy Gilman, Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha