“Withersoever the wheel of Fortune turns, Virtue stands firm upon her feet.”

“My cruel fate hath warr'd with me in vainLife, glory, worth, and all unmeasur'd skillBeauty and grace, themselves in me fulfillThat many I surpass, and to the best attain.”

“Biddanoa cominciava con un sospiro. Era il sospiro di chi, sceso dal treno nella calura del mezzogiorno, lasciata alle spalle la stazione dopo aver percorso un breve viottolo, vedeva da lontano Biddanoa, in alto sopra un monte, e la ripida salita che avrebbe dovuto percorrere per arrivarvi. Le case, da quella distanza, sembravano allegre, sorridenti, con quel bianco intorno alle porte e alle finestre come uno sguardo canzonatorio gettato al malcapitato che stava sudando nell'ultimo tratto della salita che finiva in Cuccuru 'e Callia, l'ingresso del paese.”

“Un hombre se vuelve viejo cuando los lamentos ocupan el lugar de los sueños.”

“Her eyes flicked over the cards, looked at Dimitri, then looked back at the cards. Her expression was blank. "You will lose what you value most, so treasure it while you can." She pointed to the Wheel of Fortune card. "The wheel is turning, always turning.”

“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.”

“She had turned her back upon them all and no awful fate had overtaken her; instead, she had taken a firm hold upon life and made of it a fine, even glittering, success; and this is a thing which is not easily forgiven.”