Because I am humble and patient, do you therefore suppose that I am not great?
Man from the little country across the sea, I lived when the world was young, and gathered up the ancient wisdom of a greater race than yours, and when the world is old I think that I still shall live, though not in this shape or here, with all that wisdom's essence burning in my breast, and with all beauty in my eyes.

Bickley does not believe although he worships.

You only half believe and do not worship, because memory holds you back, and I myself do not understand.

I only know though knowing so much, still I seek roads to learning, even the humble road called Bastin, that yet may lead my feet to the gate of an immortal city." "Nor do I understand how all this can be, Yva," I said feebly, for she dazzled and overwhelmed me with her blaze of power.
"No, you do not understand.

How can you, when even I cannot?
Thus for two hundred and fifty thousand years I slept, and they went by as a lightning flash.