“Justice” was done, and the President of the Immortals (in Aeschylean phrase) had ended his sport with Tess.”

“The President is also captured in a well-worn TV news clip, making a boilerplate response to a question on terrorism and then asking the reporters to watch his drive. Well, that's what you get if you catch the President on a golf course. If Eisenhower had done this, as he often did, it would have been presented as calm statesmanship. If Clinton had done it, as he often did, it would have shown his charm.”

“That's what I like to call him, "the current president." I find it difficult to say or type his name, George W. Bush. I like to call him "the current president" because it's a hopeful phrase, implying that his administration is only temporary.”

“Immortals are, by definition, immortal. End of story.”

“Over my dead body, I thought. Yes, even immortals use that phrase. It has extra oomph for us.”

“It is essential that justice be done, it is equally vital that justice not be confused with revenge, for the two are wholly different.”