How we cite our quotes: Chapter.Paragraph
Quote #4
Whenever Eck thought about the world after he was gone from it, he felt dizzy and full of terror. An eternity dead, while the rest of the world went about its business not thinking about him at all—how could that be? It seemed cruel to him, being put on earth just long enough to comprehend the full horror of extinction. (32.18)
Would it be less cruel if the Eck didn't know he was going to die? Would you rather die suddenly—or would you like to have time to settle your affairs and say goodbye? Ugh, now we're seriously depressed.
Quote #5
Why did you bother creating me, he wanted to ask. Why bother giving me a brain and a realization of how miserable existence can be? Why did you invent creatures who die and, worse, who know they are going to die? What is the point of so unkind an act of creation? (32.23)
Poor Eck. There are lots of different answers for these kinds of questions—and here's a better question: does it really matter what the answer is? Bob's answer is that he thinks it's more beautiful. Forgive us for not being comforted by that answer.
Quote #6
No world was as beautiful as this world he'd created, Bob thought, none so delicately poised between life and death. Mr. B might berate the short-lived race he'd made, berated it all the time, in fact. But he was proud of the experiment, proud of the weird evanescence all those short lives produced. OK, maybe it wasn't so nice for them, but at least they didn't drag along day after bloody day, always the same. Always alone. (34.22)
Bob's not talking about the band Evanescence here, he's talking about fleeting, temporary moments that disappear in a flash. (Okay, maybe he is talking about the band. Badum-zing!)