Maria

“What a place. Glokta stifled a smile. It reminds me of myself, in a way. We both were magnificent once, and we both have our best days far behind us.”
― Joe Abercrombie, The Blade Itself

“Like young fern shoots
my child's fingers curled.
I did not expect,
in the fifth month, frost.”
― Lian Hearn, Heaven's Net Is Wide

“Cowards can't be faulted for being shy. They can't be held responsible for anything.”
― Koushun Takami, Battle Royale

“Now, motivational patterns are going to be similar among all espionage agents. That is to say: there will be certain types of motivation that are similar despite differing schools or opposed aims. You will study first how to separate this element for your analysis—in the beginning, through interrogation patterns that betray the inner orientation of the interrogators; secondly, by close observation of language-thought orientation of those under analysis. You will find it fairly simple to determine the root languages of your subjects, of course, both through voice inflection and speech pattern.”
― Frank Herbert, Dune