“I said that great men had a sense of history. But when you say you have a great sense of history it does not follow that you are great.”

“Oh, Val," said Father. "All you have to do is live your life, and everyone around you will be happier.""No greatness, then.""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.”

“The history of the world is but a biography of great men.”

“Regin had known the risk in coming here, but she wasn't fearful. As Lucia had also told her, "Sometimes I don't think you have the sense to be afraid when you should." Regin had interpreted that to mean, "You have no sense of fear, oh, great Reginleit.”

“We know you have a great mind and all, Mother, but you don’t have much sense.”

“Human history is full of great men, great women, individuals, with the will for power - all of them with governesses like her.”