Sepehr

“Greed seemed to Bellarion, that morning, the dominant impulse of worldly life. He saw it and all the stark, selfish evil of it wherever he turned his retrospective glance.”
― Rafael Sabatini, Bellarion

“He questioned now his heresy on the score of sin. It was possible that, after all, the theologians might be right. Whether sin and evil were convertible terms he could not be sure. But not only was he quite sure that there was no lack of evil in the world; he actually began to wonder if evil were not the positive force that fashions the destinies of men, whilst good is but a form of resistance which, however strong, remains passive, or else, when active, commonly operates through evil that it may ultimately prevail.”
― Rafael Sabatini, Bellarion

“Ah, sir! our manners were formed from our different fortunes, not our different age. Wealth gave a loose to your youth, and poverty put a restraint upon mine.”
― Richard Steele, The Conscious Lovers: A Comedy In Five Acts

“Messer Gonzaga’s courage seems of a quality that wanes as the need for it increases.”
― Rafael Sabatini, Love-At-Arms