Mars and my own stupidity keep trying to kill me.

Problem is (follow me closely here, the science is pretty complicated), if I cut a hole in the Hab, the air won't stay inside anymore.

As with most of life's problems, this one can be solved by a box of pure radiation.

If ruining the only religious icon I have leaves me vulnerable to Martian vampires, I'll have to risk it.

Actually, I was the very lowest ranked member of the crew. I would only be “in command” if I were the only remaining person.”What do you know? I’m in command

How did I end up in this situation? I'm the district sales manager of a napkin factor. Why is my daughter in space?

Turns out even NASA can't improve on duct tape.

I'm so close to Schiaparelli I can taste it. I guess it would taste like sand, mostly, but that's not the point.

It is of course dangerous to set off an explosive device on a spacecraft.

I stumbled up the hill back toward the Hab. As I crested the rise, I saw something that made me very happy and something that made me very sad: The Hab was intact (yay!) and the MAV was gone (boo!).

Space is dangerous. It's what we do here. If you want to play it safe all the time, go join an insurance company.

There is a shade of red for every woman.

Acts don't mean anything. Acts do not matter--you, your awareness, your being conscious, mindful, is what matters. What you do is not the concern.

Mania starts off fun, not sleeping for days, keeping company with your brain, which has become a wonderful computer, showing 24 TV channels all about you. That goes horribly wrong after awhile.

The fact that there is a general belief in a future life is no evidence of its truth

You cannot have both truth and what you call civilisation.

Truth is for tailors and shoemakers. I, on the contrary, have always held that the Lord has a penchant for masquerades.

Time spent with your children is time wisely spent.

Investing is fun and exciting, but dangerous if you don't do any work.

- I notice you didn't laugh, Mr. Black! - No, Your Majesty. We are forbidden to laugh at the things kings say, sire, because otherwise we would be at it all day.

My mother's always looking for answers. She's always searching for new information. I think she has a thirst for hunger that very few possess innately.