| Andrei: | Someday our entire existence will be nothing but a very thin layer of sediment on this giant planet that has witnessed so many other life forms. |
| Soo: | Yes, to realize we are dust and that we shall return to dust is strangely comforting. |
| Ellesha: | On one level this is certainly true. However, on another level we are more than mere atoms and molecules. We are also ideas and part of an evolving discourse. |
| Elijah: | (raising his eyebrows) An evolving discourse? More often than not, I see repeating stupidity and little evidence of any evolving discourse. |
| Ellesha: | What we see depends on our time scale. If you judge our species by a few lifetimes, it is difficult to see any progress. However, if we shift to longer timescales such as equinoctial cycles, a pattern emerges. We are evolving towards something that is amazing! |
| Elijah: | Amazing? (smiling while chuckling and disengaging from this conversation) Well, whatever you say! |