“Was he deadpan because he didn’t care anymore? How much boredom can you meet in three hundred years?”

Source: Reaper Man

The Chocolate War (1974)

Commenting on Robert Mugabe, 6 June, 2008. http://observer.com/2008/06/barron-praises-robert-mugabe-for-doing-what-mandela-and-tutu-wouldnt/

Source: Micah

Letter to a Friend (circa 1656)

Chap. 11, "The Fat Man"
Dialogue between the characters Kasper Gutman (the "fat man") and Sam Spade.
Source: The Maltese Falcon (1930)
Context: "We begin well, sir," the fat man purred … "I distrust a man that says when. If he's got to be careful not to drink too much it's because he's not to be trusted when he does. … Well, sir, here's to plain speaking and clear understanding. … You're a close-mouthed man?"
Spade shook his head. "I like to talk."
"Better and better!" the fat man exclaimed. "I distrust a close-mouthed man. He generally picks the wrong time to talk and says the wrong things. Talking's something you can't do judiciously unless you keep in practice."

"Dire Poverty", in Unfinished Business : Short Diversions On Religious Themes (1956)
Context: Many years ago Rudyard Kipling gave an address at McGill University in Montreal. He said one striking thing which deserves to be remembered. Warning the students against an over-concern for money, or position, or glory, he said: "Some day you will meet a man who cares for none of these things. Then you will know how poor you are."
That has happened on a grand scale. Jesus cared for none of these things. And for nineteen centuries he has led many people to see how poor they are with only a collection of things to show for their journey through life, and no spiritual resources.

p 54
Shizuka-na seikatsu (A Quiet Life) (1990)

Variant: No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care