And in the manner of this ideal we strive, though even that not too onerously. For piety itself may be used to make a chain about the soul. - Tanith Lee

In the land of my childhood there was a saying, as follows: 'The black rose does not anywhere grow. Therefore let us fondly believe in the blooming of the black rose.'"
"Where I shall feast presently,"said Azhrarn, "black roses are woven in the garlands. Enlighten them therefore in your childhood's land: The black rose blooms. No longer believe in the black rose."
"Zhoreb—what shall we do?"
"There is nothing to be done. Demons exist." And then Zhoreb smiled and added under his breath, "Therefore we need not believe in them.

Uasti was a good teacher," he said. "She made you look a little way into yourself, see what you could become.

The thought had taken hold: Only the best must survive, not a hierarchy of riff-raff. Gods, who had such power of life or death as he, must choose carefully. And one day he would have to choose: Shall I immortalize this one, or this? But not yet.