“as if by behaving modestly and discreetly they could make the fire stay up on the mountain and die there, like an unwanted god.”

“It is the wretchedness of being rich that you have to live with rich people ... To suppose, as we all suppose, that we could be rich and not behave as the rich behave, is like supposing that we could drink all day and stay sober.”

“A blanket could be used to stimulate the topographical terrain of a mountainous region. Kind of makes you feel like God, if you think about it.
”

“Julius brooded. He could see Julius despising the medical school of Pavia. Tobie said, "Nicholas managed the journey from Flanders all right. Deferred to you, joked discreetly with me, got on like a dyeworks on fire with the muleteers.”

“A slave should be sincere, loyal, discreet, clean, modest, honest, graceful, intelligent (that is able to learn what is required for her position), respectful of herself and others, observant, attentive, and ethical.”

“The Christmas tree, twinkling with lights, had a mountain of gifts piled up beneath it, like offerings to the great god of excess.”