It is blasphemy to separate oneself from the earth and look down on it like a god. It is more than blasphemy, it is dangerous. We can never be gods, … - N. K. Jemisin

Unreasoning optimism is a fundamental element of childishness.

Even our mortal courtesans have been with gods enough to have acquired a certain ethereal technique. He smiled a salesman's smile, though it never once touched his eyes.
That's what you're selling. Not sex, but divinity. I frowned. Gods, Ahad, at least worship is free.
It was never free. His smile vanished. It hadn't been real, anyway. Every mortal who offered a god devotion wanted something in exchange for it—blessings, a guaranteed place in the heavens, status. And every god who demanded worship expected loyalty and more, in exchange. So why shouldn't we be honest about what we're doing? At least here, no god lies.

What happened when people who’d once possessed absolute power suddenly lost it?