“Technology has robbed us of everything that made being human fun."--Aristotle Learyfrom Rubicon Harvest”

“It is one of the commonest of our mistakes to consider that the limit of our power of perception is also the limit of all that there is to perceive.”

“The world is only as small as we see it, my lady. Imagination knows no limits.”

“Love is a treacherous emotion. You will fare better without it. We Medici always have.”

“The truth is, not one of is innocent. We all have sins to confess.”

“You may come as a proud prince today young Habsburg. But you shall travel many more roads in Castile in death than you ever will in life”

“You'll fare beer without love. We Medici always do." As soon as I spoke, I regretted it. I'd remembered Papa Clement's phrase exactly, used it to the same horrid purpose. I saw her flinch, take a small step back. I wanted to console her, to somehow ease the harsh reality of what I'd said. But I could not. I would not lie to her nor pretend the task I set before her was anything other than what it was: an act of submission, which could entail the loss of her youthful dreams.”