I had been right in the first place. Getting involved with politicians is complete stupidity.

The grander the temple, the lousier its hangers-on.

A good bathe when you really need it can get you over almost anything.

Emperors may come and go, bringing more or less chaos, but the bureaucrats keep the wheels turning.

We both had a tender regard for this god. Min had not only helped us learn something material; more importantly, his presence had helped Tiberius. Working in disguise at the lettuce booth, though ludicrous, had taken his mind off his troubles after the lightning strike. Min had restored my man to me.

I like my women in a few wisps of drapery: then I can hope for a chance to remove the wisps. If they start out with nothing I tend to get depressed because either they have just stripped off for someone else or, in my line of work, they are usually dead.

Even men who use fear as their weapon can themselves be threatened. We all have something we don’t want to lose.

No woman who builds a career on hard work and talent will ever compliment a much younger one who uses the shallow gift of her looks.

It is possible to take against someone, then continue to loathe them out of pure prejudice.

All bankers assume your money is theirs to play with.