But, as often happened, the official and the real had only a nodding acquaintance with each other. - Harry Turtledove

If Earl Eyvind wanted to talk nonsense, he was welcome to, as far as Hamnet was concerned.
If he wanted anyone else to take him seriously when he did…that was another story altogether.

Pretty damn soon, the Rebs'll pack it in here, too, I expect," Carlton said. "Every blasphemy that passes your lips means a hotter dose of hellfire in the world to come," McSweeney answered." "I've seen enough hellfire right here on earth," Carlton said. "The kind of the preachers go on about don't worry me as much as it used to.

Mosquitoes laid eggs in those ponds and then rose in buzzing, biting swarms. Sometimes the clouds of them were thick enough to dim the sun. It was as if the soul of a vampire were reincarnated in a million beings instead of just one.