une once d'inertie pèse plus qu'un boisseau de sagesse (La conversation à Innsbruck) - Marguerite Yourcenar

This Second Century appeals to me because it was the last century, for a very long period of time, in which men could think and express themselves with full freedom. As for us, we are perhaps already very far from such times as that.

The skirmishes with the theologians had had their charm, but he knew well that no lasting accord exists between those who seek, ponder, and dissect and pride themselves on being capable of thinking tomorrow other than they do today, and those who accept the Faith, or declare that they do, and oblige their fellow men to do the same, on pain of death.

Of all our games, love's play is the only one which threatens to unsettle the soul...