"Bethink yourself of what went before," said Media.
"Lose not the thread," said Mohi.
"It has snapped," said Babbalanja.
"I breathe again," said Mohi.
"But what a stepping-off place you came to then, philosopher," said Media.

"By the way, is it not old Bardianna who says, that no Mardian should undertake to walk, without keeping one foot foremost ?" "To return to the vagueness of the notion I have of myself," said Babbalanja.
"An appropriate theme," said Media, "proceed." "My lord," murmured Mohi, "Is not this philosopher like a centipede?
Cut off his head, and still he crawls." "There are times when I fancy myself a lunatic," resumed Babbalanja.
"Ah, now he's beginning to talk sense," whispered Mohi.
"Surely you forget, Babbalanja," said Media.

"How many more theories have you?
First, you are possessed by a devil; then rent yourself out to the indweller; and now turn yourself into a mad-house.

You are inconsistent." "And for that very reason, my lord, not inconsistent; for the sum of my inconsistencies makes up my consistency.

And to be consistent to one's self, is often to be inconsistent to Mardi.