It is as much alive as the earth or air or water, and it can be used to develop as many varying energies.

That is why it is all so amazingly interesting.
As long as you don't fall away from that thought you have your feet planted on solid ground--you can face things squarely--" "You preach a kind of political pragmatism," she said as he paused.
"Pragmatism?
That's a muscular word, but I don't know it.

I wonder if Robinson Crusoe discovered it." "If Robinson Crusoe didn't discover it, he lived it," she rejoined gaily; and then, as the voice of Mrs.Berkeley was heard purring softly on Vetch's other side, Corinna turned to the bewhiskered General, whose only sense, she had already ascertained, was the historic sense.
While she leaned back, with her head bent in the direction of his husky voice, she was visited by a piercing realization of the emptiness, the artificiality of her life.

Futility--weariness--disenchantment--a gray lane without a turning that stretched on into nothingness! Many thoughts were blown through her mind like leaves in a high wind.

She saw herself from the beginning--striving without rest--searching--searching--for what?
For happiness--for perfection--for the starry flower that she had never found.