But there comes a moment when the mood burns out and everything ends. As a matter of reflex, out of custom, we go on repeating the gestures and words and want everything to be the way it was yesterday, but we know already — and the discovery Appalls us — that this yesterday will never again return. We look around and make another discovery: those who were with us have also changed —something has burned out in them, as well, something has been extinguished.

Ryszard Kapuscinskis, Shah of Shahs