Voss - pg. 95

"I am always about to act positively," Le Mesurier answered wryly. "There is some purpose in me, if only I can hit upon it. But my whole life has been an investigation, shall we say, of ways. For that reason I will not give you my history. It is too fragmentary; you would be made dizzy. And this colony is fatal to anyone of any bent. There are such prospects. How can I make a fortune from merino sheep, when at the same time there is a dream of gold, of some inland sea floating with tropical birds? Then, sometimes, it seems that all these faults and hesitations, all the worst evil in me is gathering itself together into a solid core, and that I shall bring forth something of great beauty. This I call my oyster delusion."