was it the logan pearsal smith quote `` the indefatigable pursuit of an unat ainable perfection , even though it consist in nothing more than in the pounding of an old piano , is what alone gives a meaning to our life on this unavailing star '' from page 202 of j. r. moehringer 's the tender bar or , a few lines down , the more simple `` being alone has nothing to do with how many people are around '' ?