A bludgeon of wives (surely that must be the plural assignation)! - Steven Erikson

But lessons only became lessons when one has reached the state of humility required to heed them.

Why not worship money? At least its rewards are obvious and immediate . But no, that was simplistic. Letherii worship was more subtle, its ethics bound to those traits and habits that well served the acquisition of wealth. Diligence, discipline, hard work, optimism, the personalization of glory. And the corresponding evils: sloth, despair and the anonymity of failure. The world was brutal enough to winnow one from the other and leave no room for doubt or mealy equivocation.

Against a broken heart, even absurdity falters.
Because words fall away.
A dialogue of silence.
That deafens.