Some comments and observations are made concerning the subject matter of the Vanderbilt conference: I. The topological cross sections for p‐p and &pgr;‐p interactions—the two‐component picture, quark model expectations, and KNO scaling; II. Inclusive processes—the energy dependences of the different cross sections, the central region and Landau's hydrodynamic model as an alternative to the conventional view; III. Total and elastic cross sections—the rising total cross section, the slope parameter and the ratio of real to imaginary part, asymptotic expectations, the scattering at moderate ∣t∣ values. In addition, some miscellaneous remarks are made on antideuteron production, inelastic proton spectra, phenomena at large transverse momenta, and speculations on future developments.