diff --git a/src/layouts/Base.astro b/src/layouts/Base.astro
index f8d56cd..1ea16e2 100644
--- a/src/layouts/Base.astro
+++ b/src/layouts/Base.astro
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ const showToc = headings.filter((h) => h.depth <= 3).length >= 2;
       <div class="content-col">
         <header>
           {!isHome && <nav><a href="/">← home</a></nav>}
+          <div id="hq" class="header-quote" hidden>
+            <span id="hq-text"></span>
+            <span id="hq-attr" class="hq-attr"></span>
+          </div>
         </header>
         <main>
           <slot />
@@ -72,6 +76,25 @@ const showToc = headings.filter((h) => h.depth <= 3).length >= 2;
       }
     </div>
 
+    <script>
+      // Header quote: one random reading highlight per page view.
+      // Fail-closed: any error leaves the slot hidden.
+      try {
+        const res = await fetch(
+          'https://api.c0smere.net/highlights/random?max_len=280',
+        );
+        if (!res.ok) throw new Error(String(res.status));
+        const q = await res.json();
+        document.getElementById('hq-text')!.textContent = `“${q.text}”`;
+        document.getElementById('hq-attr')!.textContent = q.author
+          ? `— ${q.author}, ${q.book}`
+          : `— ${q.book}`;
+        document.getElementById('hq')!.hidden = false;
+      } catch {
+        /* API down or blocked: slot stays hidden */
+      }
+    </script>
+
     <script>
       // Odometer: fetch totals once, then animate forward at the lifetime
       // average rate. Looks live, but deliberately never exposes current
@@ -321,6 +344,20 @@ const showToc = headings.filter((h) => h.depth <= 3).length >= 2;
         margin-bottom: 1rem;
         font-size: 0.9rem;
       }
+      .header-quote {
+        margin-bottom: 1.75rem;
+        padding-bottom: 0.75rem;
+        border-bottom: 1px solid var(--faint);
+        font-size: 0.85rem;
+        font-style: italic;
+        color: var(--muted);
+      }
+      .header-quote .hq-attr {
+        font-style: normal;
+        white-space: nowrap;
+        margin-left: 0.4rem;
+        font-size: 0.8rem;
+      }
       footer {
         margin-top: 3rem;
         padding-top: 1rem;