Why times How equals What

Thoughts on being about to begin a new year, yet reluctant to make New Year's resolutions.
 
 'What happened?' said the child, his words bubbling into the mud and up through the murky water.
    'What happened indeed!' said the father. 'Why times How equalled What, and here we are, no closer to self-winding than before!'
[...]
    'What is there to say when one's head is in the mud?' said the father.
    'What is there not to say!' came the answer from the gravelly voice. 'The relation of self to mud is basic to any discussion of TO BE.  Basic. At the bottom.'
   'Our heads are at the bottom,' said the mouse child.  'We're upside-down.'
   'The upside-downess of self,' said the voice.  'A good beginning.  Continue.'

- The Mouse and his Child, Russell Hoban. Pages 105 - 106