The black cloud - Fred Hoyle

"Why are there so many fools in the world?" — he exclaimed in a rather wild tone.
"Good, you've seen the light at last, have you?" — was Kingsley's comment.

“Well, if a beetle were to say to you, ‘Please, Miss Halsey, will you avoid treading here, otherwise I shall be crushed,’ wouldn't you be willing to move your foot a trifle?”