“Modern Romans insisted that there was only one god, a notion that struck Alobar as comically simplistic. Worse, this Semitic deity was reputed to be jealous (what was there to be jealous of if there were no other gods?), vindictive, and altogether foul-tempered. If you didn’t serve the nasty fellow, the Romans would burn your house down. If you did serve him, you were called a Christian and got to burn other people’s houses down.”

“What is your idea of earthly happiness? To be vindicated in my own lifetime.”

“If you spend your time hoping someone will suffer the consequences for what they did to your heart, then you’re allowing them to hurt you a second time in your mind.”