“How many details had to point in the same direction before one decided they pointed true? Depends on how costly it is to be mistaken, maybe?”

— Lois McMaster Bujold , Vorkosigan Saga

Source: Vorkosigan Saga, Captain Vorpatril's Alliance (2012), Chapter 1 (p. 21)

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Lois McMaster Bujold 383

Science Fiction and fantasy author from the USA 1949

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version in original Dutch / citaat van Bilders' brief, in het Nederlands: Veel schilderijen staan op stapel, verscheidene half gereed, de andere bijna vernist, met de naam eronder. Een voornaam punt is hoe een schilderij uitvalt, een even voornaam punt wanneer, hoe en aan wie het verkocht wordt. Van deze drie punten is het 'wanneer', op dit ogenblik tenminste, voor mij weer het voornaamste. Vervolgens het 'hoe', in de zin van 'hoeveel'. Aan 'wie', is weelde of brooddronkenheid, als van iemand die lange tijd niets te eten heeft gehad en er dan nog over gaat denken, bij wie hij het liefst zijn buik gaat vullen.. ..Hoe gemeen! Schilders zijn geringe lui. Hard!
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“How many details had to point in the same direction before one decided they pointed true? Depends on how costly it is to be mistaken, maybe?”

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Lois McMaster Bujold 383

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