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Quote by Sara Seager

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The Smallest Lights In The Universe

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Sara Seager
Sara Seager

Sara Seager is an accomplished astronomer born on July 21, 1971. She is renowned for her contributions to astrophysics and planetary science, particularly in the field of exoplanet discovery and the study of planetary atmospheres. more

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“Broken (The Sonnet) The most effective people, On earth are all broken. The people with most excellence, Are all broken. There is no excellence without brokenness, For brokenness builds character. Broken, and in agony, that's how we grow, One who knows pain knows to help another. Pain is not our enemy, Pain is what keeps us alert. To avoid pain is to avoid growth, To avoid pain is to keep the heart shut. Embrace pain, and pain will have no hold over you. Once accepted, in brokenness you'll find yourself anew.”

“Sol sneered. “The Unabomber was a mathematician.” “What Ted Kaczynski did can barely be called math,” David said.  “Boundary conditions! Totally irrelevant.” “He had a PhD.” “From the University of Michigan. I don’t know if that even counts. And don’t think I don’t know that it was his brother who turned him in.” Sol looked at him closely. “Whose name was David. That’s your name, right?” “I would never turn you in.” Sol shrugged. “Of course not,” he said and drove on.”

“David watched Sol finish the can of beans. Sol always ate fast. He overate. Since he was eight. Sol leaned back in the wooden chair against the wall, under the window. Baby brother. Sol could have been anything he wanted to be. Nothing mathematical, nothing quantitative, of course, but anything else. A beautiful boy, a wonderful brother, they got along well. Then when Sol turned eight years old, age of a new beginning, their mother obsessed over him, ignoring David. Obsessed over Sol and his underwear. Over and over, a regeneration, a newness. Changed his clothes constantly, had him on her lap every minute possible. She put him in bed and tucked the covers in every night. She refused to let their father do it, so he always took care of David. But, of course, David needed no help and Sol always needed Ruth to take care of him. Sol was still being breast fed even when he finally went to kindergarten. Then Ruth slowly increased regular, solid food. But before bed, Sol had a nightcap, mother’s milk. Their special time. Their unique closeness took a turn from breastfeeding to something else. By the time Sol was in third grade, he was one of the fattest kids in class. Then the brothers became a real team. Now here he was. David and Sol still together, on a mission given by the Creator. It was perfect.”

“You were kind of mean to Brittany,” Holly said. “Was I? Trying to be protective, I guess. I have a problem with cheerleaders, sorority sisters, gangs, committees, groups, anything pack-related.” She shrugged. “Yeah, you’re not really a joiner.” I was never much for cheerleaders or jocks myself, especially in high school. I always knew that kind of popularity was short term, but when you’re a teenager it seemed like the most important thing in the world. But Holly was only twelve.”

“They all looked at Holly. She turned to face the cheerleader and said, “You need to learn that some things are more valuable than good looks. Data manipulation is more important than big boobs. Analytics is more useful than lip gloss.” Wow, she said that? Everyone laughed a bit, surprised, shocked. Holly turned and headed toward the concert hall. Grinning.”

“Alex: Kabimba! You know I've also fallen hopelessly behind them because of the time I spent in prison. So what am I to do now? Elbow them aside? Smash their windows? Kabimba! Hatred and resentment will never get you anywhere. They are the most barren feelings in the world. One has to rise above that and realize that we have lost centuries or decades - we've been insulted, humiliated, but that's no reason for revenge. Nor should we try. All the same we're richer than they are. Kabimba: (indignantly) We are? Richer in what way? In what way? Alex: Because we've suffered, Kabimba. Suffering is a leveler for the soul. A contented person always has an impoverished soul. It's our job to build little by little. (scene four)”