“...you have neither wife nor child (without any sexual feeling, she longed to cherish that loneliness)...”

“I am neither a child, a young man, nor an ancient; nor am I of any caste.”

“Neither duty, nor honour, nor gratitude ... have any possible claim on me.”

“Those who don't have a wife should sublimate their sexual energies with outdoor sports or long walks.”

“So we both pray this child is a female and that she grows to love and cherish you as we do, that this is the one who will be your other half.”Gregori stirred as if to say something.Do not say anything! Mikhail hissed in the healer’s head. She believes the child will have a choice.Gregori bowed his head mentally to Mikhail. If Mikhail chose to allow his wife the comforting if false thought that the female child would have a choice in such a matter, then so be it.”

“I feel like a real dead one: having neither blood to bleed nor any flesh or bone to feel the scars; yet I want to hold on to my spirit.”