"Once [China] had a destiny. Once she was a conqueror. Now her greatest destiny seems to be merely to exist, to survive."

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Speakers' nerves affect them in various ways. Some tremble, some become frenzied. I lose all confidence, and suffer from a leaden oppression that makes me wonder why I ever agreed to speak at all; the Tomb and the Conqueror Worm seem preferable to delivering the stupid and piffling speech I have so carefully prepared.

— Robertson Davies