And on the Eighth Day Quotes

“He does a work that must be done, and so he justifies his bread. Also, if he and the very few like him who are born to us teach us the love which is difficult, it cannot be said that they were born in vain.” The love which is difficult …”
― Ellery Queen, And on the Eighth Day

“Let’s go, then,” Ellery said, stopping a sigh. “Shall we go?” the Superintendent asked promptly. And after a few silent moments of walking he said, “That is the communal dining hall.” “I know, Superintendent. I ate there this morning. And yesterday. And the day before.” The man looked at him glassily. “It is where the community eats,” he said. “Ah,” said Ellery. “Thank you.” What was the use?”
― Ellery Queen, And on the Eighth Day

“The young man seated himself at a writing desk, selected a reed pen, fixed its point with a small knife, dipped it in a jar of ink, and wrote on a scrap of paper. There was something arcane, hieratic, about his manner. Scriptorium … Suddenly Ellery realized what it was: with his own eyes, in the century of rocket experimentation and quantum physics, he was actually beholding a scribe at work in the manner of the ancients. In silence he picked up the piece of paper. Sanquetum.”
― Ellery Queen, And on the Eighth Day