[As philosophies go, it's a sound one. Each life has pain, and each one has value. At length, he pours himself a cup of tea. The spices are from his home, and he has not yet found an equivalent mixture here, but he supposes it tastes faintly of ginger, cinnamon and turmeric spice.]

It was-- [he begins in a speculative tone, it turns playful and teasing,] an observation. Not so much a criticism.

[That smile is back, he hides it with a drink of tea. More seriously,]

I'm sorry for what you have suffered. It takes a strong person to acknowledge how it forged them.