L W

“Courage and endurance are useless if they are never tested.”
― Penelope Fitzgerald, The Bookshop

“They denied the paradox by swallowing it whole.”
― Mark Z. Danielewski, House of Leaves

“How old were you when you started playing?”, she asked.
“Five. I was District Champion at seven. I hope to be a World Champion one day.”
“When?”
“In three years.”
“You'll be sixteen in three years”, she said, “If you win, what will you do afterward?”.
He looked confused. “I don't understand”, he replied.
“If you're a World Champion at sixteen, what will you do with the rest of your life?”
He still looked confused. “I don't understand”.”
― Walter Tevis, The Queen's Gambit

“Nothing is more deceitful," said Darcy, "than the appearance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast.”
― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice