“History's got no bows on it, only frayed ends of ribbons and knots that can't be untied.”

“I am a Gordian knot. Don't unravel, just slice.”

“For it is in the millions of small melodies that the truth of history is always found, for history only matters because of the effects we see or imagine in the lives of the ordinary people who are caught up in, or give shape to, the great events.”

“all living things are manipulated as long as there is a will, it is bent and twisted constantly. Only the dead are allowed the luxury of freedom, and then only because they want nothing, and therefore can't be thwarted.”

“There's only one thing that will make them stop hating you. And that's being so good at what you do that they can't ignore you.”

“Val," said Mother, "goodness trumps greatness any day.""Not in the history books," said Valentine."Then the wrong people are writing history, aren't they?" said Father.”

“History is an omlette. THe eggs are already broken.”