The turnip cannot thrive in the tulips patch of soil.

What are we all chasing? Nella wonders. To live, of course. To be unbound from the invisible ropes that Johannes spoke of in his study. Or to be happy in them, at least.

You are a stone, thrown upon a lake. But the ripples you create will never make you still.

This city is like no other city in the world. It is brilliant but it is bloated, and I've never called it home

The rules of this house are written in water. I must either sink or swim.

Because, Petronella - it's something in his soul. It's something in his soul and you can't get it out.

All we can do if we're lucky is stich up the mistakes other people make.

Love your children, for they are the seeds that will make this city bloom.

Words are water in this city. One drop of rumour could drown us.

Take care, take care. This city thrives! It's money gives you wings to soar. But it is a yoke on your shoulders and you would do well to take note of the bruise around your neck.

Believe it or don't believe it, Madame. But my feet are tired too. Bloody tired. Like a dead man's.

The end move in politics is always to pick up a gun.

Nominees [to Supreme Court] shouldn't be expected to pre-commit to ruling on certain issues in a certain way. Nor should senators ask nominees to pledge to rule on issues in a particular way.

When I edit, I'm not from the school of Hello, I'm a genius, so everybody shut up. I'm from the school of Let's play it once in front of an audience, and then I'll tell you where it is going

Never judge your own writing. You're not fit to do so.

I should have said, 'Follow your blisters.'

The thing I learned was the lack of coordination in research projects in the world and therefore you will have gaps in what we could possibly learn from these research projects.

I'm a historian, and that freaks me out.

The desire for knowledge shapes a man.

I kept waiting for him to lay bare something more than this pointed unobjectionableness, but all that rose to the surface was more surface

The lamp burns bright when wick and oil are clean.