Behavior that is rewarded is repeated. And the reverse. - Lois McMaster Bujold

Honesty is the only way with anyone, when you’ll be so close as to be living inside each other’s skins.

People have some very odd illusions about power. Mostly it consists of finding a parade and nipping over to place yourself at the head of the band. Just as eloquence consists of persuading people of things they desperately want to believe. Demagoguery, I suppose, is eloquence sliding to some least moral energy level.

Poets speak of hope in ladies smiles, but give me a smirk any day, I say.