We live for such miracles

Each chapter of my thesis document has a quote, which connects emotionally with me, to introduce the central idea of that chapter. I am very glad that I took time out in the past to do this: now I notice how the thesis document reflects what I was thinking (and feeling) at the time.

One of the quotes I like the most is the one I used for the bibliography chapter: the Ken Liu quote. Ken Liu is a Chinese science fiction writer I used to read in the summers of my PhD. I wish I could convey to you how much I was (and am) passionate about reading Ken Liu’s stories, but, instead, I prefer to leave his quote here for you to read it yourself :-)

“Who can say if the thoughts you have in your mind as you read these words are the same thoughts I had in my mind as I typed them? We are different, you and I, and the qualia of our consciousnesses are as divergent as two stars at the ends of the universe. And yet, whatever has been lost in translation in the long journey of my thoughts through the maze of civilization to your mind, I think you do understand me, and you think you do understand me. Our minds managed to touch, if but briefly and imperfectly. Does that thought not make the universe seem just a bit kinder, a bit brighter, a bit warmer and more human? We live for such miracles.”

—Ken Liu, “The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories”.