"Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out." - Vaclav Havel (b. 1936) Czech playwright, president. "Disturbing the Peace" chapter 5 (1986, tr. 1990)
"My three-wheeled bike was a wonder going down the hill. No pedalling, let them whiz, feet up, sit tight, zig and zag and ring the bell and steer these handlebars down and away, yes, ring the bell, mind the bumps, avoid the cart, and its horse, ring the bell, grip hard now and go wheeling right round this bend, that's it, mind the kerb, steer straight, grip hard, all's a blur and a bumping, bike shakes, eyes water, breeze is blowing, shuddering bike is slowing down, slower, slower, slowly now to stop at the bottom of the hill." - Peter O'Toole, "Loitering with Intent - The Child", 1992.