Stars And A Mountain

"Hunters of the Sky Cave," IX.

"Flandry glanced out. The stars flashed impersonally, not caring that a few motes of flesh named them provinces for a few centuries." (p. 221)

I have quoted this passage twice before. See here. It is the kind of passage that needs to be included in any novel in order to place human life in its cosmic perspective.

While still at school, I read a historical novel in which the central character climbed a mountain and, while on the summit, saw human conflicts as irrelevant. He climbed back down and continued to fight for his country against its enemies. Meanwhile, I, as a reader, had retained the mountain top perspective and therefore remained indifferent to the outcome of that particular conflict. This was not the author's intention but was the effect of his writing.