Each of us has only a quantum of compassion. That if we lavish our concern on every stray cat, we never get to the centre of things. What do you thin… - John le Carré

He met failure as one day he would probably meet death, with cynical resentment and the courage of a solitary.

The Armorys of this world don't steal. They serve their country right or wrong. Or they do until the day when they come face to face with real life and their warped rectitude deserts them and their faces unlock and become real, puzzled faces like everybody else's. So there's another god for you that's passed its sell-by date: enlightened patriotism, until this afternoon Nick Armory's religion. (ch. 14)

... in moments of crisis our thoughts do not run consecutively but rather sweep over us in waves or intuition and experience ...