The interpretation of observations on cosmic rays above 1015 eV is discussed in simple terms, without considering detailed models. The variation of the amplitude of anisotropy with energy (compared with a “leaky box” picture) and the anisotropy in galactic latitude (indicating a local density gradient) strongly suggest a galactic origin for particles up to at least 1018 eV, whilst particles above 3x1019 eV are very probably extra-galactic. Very few types of source could accelerate particles to 1020 eV. Important conflicts of evidence which at present hamper our interpretation — concerning particle composition and magnetic field strength — are pointed out,