"I walked up the steps and became aware of a crowd of people surrounding one of the tables. The crowd included two policemen." Chapter 1, A Critical Mass, pg. 2

"The First Insight is a reconsideration of the inherent mystery that surrounds our individual lives on this planet." Chapter 1, A Critical Mass, pg. 7

"The confidence I had experienced at the lake was quickly fading back into skepticism. Both the First Insight and the idea of cultural transformation again seemed fanciful and unrealistic." Chapter 2, The Longer Now, pg. 17

"'The Second Insight,' he said, 'puts our current awareness into a longer historical perspective.'" Chapter 2, The Longer Now, pg. 21

"As I considered my options, I realized that in reality I had no choice. The Second Insight had ended any possibility of going back to my old preoccupations. If I was going to stay aware, I had to go forward." Chapter 2, The...