We would soon be on our way to war, where mercy is unwise and kindness has no place.

He wore the memory of her embrace like armor, and though he knew it would not save his life, it would be all that was left to him to ease his passage into whatever lay beyond.

Since my arrival in Rome, I have had many opportunities to wonder if compassion’s opposite is cruelty, or to reflect whether or not indifference would serve as a better black to its white.

Why can’t I remember that not once have I ever seen a coin, whether grimy copper or bright gold, that had but one side.

Ignorance is an underrated virtue, my lord.

Pride costs nothing, yet it is especially precious when it can be “purchased” at someone else’s expense.

Some men simply refuse to appear insulted. But then, having felt the sting from the slap on their cheek, know just where to slip the knife, their smile never fading.

I advise, however, moderation in this task of setting goals, or else risk becoming tangled up in a Gordian knot of life’s many disappointments.

Oh, the unintended consequences of perfidy!

Failure has its successes.

Organizing gods is like herding cats into straight lines. They don't take naturally to it.

Remember to give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way

For some interesting reason, I also like a guy who has a littte bit of a belly. I think that's really cute.

I wanted to know the name of every stone and flower and insect and bird and beast. I wanted to know where it got its color, where it got its life - but there was no one to tell me.

There's not a lot of money in revenge.

I know that if I have been working on one paragraph and I have written it three times, it goes in the bin. Unless it comes straight out, it is wrong, it is awkward, it does not fit.

I am amazed that CNN can't get its act together.

But I would say basically, I would just like to be remembered for what I did on the field.

Religion and art spring from the same root and are close kin.