How we cite our quotes: Chapter.Paragraph
Quote #7
"But I'd never fall in love with one. Imagine the explaining you'd have to do. Think of the look on Lucy's face when you tell her who you are." (36.16)
Mr. B sees the appeal of mortals, but he knows that any relationship with them is doomed.
Quote #8
"It's not right. Mortality is a terrible notion." Mr. B looks up at Bernard and lowers his voice, conspiratorially. "It's not like this everywhere, you know." (45.17)
Woo-ee! No wonder Bernard thinks Mr. B is crazy. We wonder what a world full of immortals would look like—probably a lot of people holding really long grudges.
Quote #9
"One hopes," he says, "after a long life, surrounded by loving family and the memory of good works . . ." "That it might not seem such a bad prospect?" Mr. B frowns. "Now, you see, I think that's untrue. The occasional person genuinely doesn't mind. But most do." He removes his spectacles and begins cleaning them on his handkerchief. "Something about eternal nothingness really rocks the boat." (45.21)
Here's the thing: maybe people don't mind dying at the end of a long life if they think they've got all eternity waiting for them (as in Christianity) or the prospect of a few more long lives (in faith traditions that believe in reincarnation. But Mr. B isn't offering either of those—just nothingness. Yeah, that sounds a little scary.