You know, it's as if the two extremes -- a marvelous state and a general decomposition -- were here like this (gesture of being inextricably intertwined). Everything, but everything is falling apart: people you count on give way, it seems there's a general dishonesty spreading, people getting sick all the time.... As difficulties go, there have NEVER been so many, never, and compounded: big difficulties with ruinous ones. This morning for a few minutes it was absolutely marvelous, but the rest of the time it's infernal. There you are, you see, that's life for you. Everything, all, all seems to be falling apart, the people you count on give way, but at the same time, all of a sudden.... It's 90 percent like that, but the 10 percent is so marvelous that it's unimaginable. That's how things are. And all the people needed to operate the organization, all the persons you count on, ploff! they fall through. page 181-82 - Mother's Agenda , volume 12 , 3rd July - 1971