Men change their gods, and when they have changed them often enough they cease to fear their power. - John Brunner

…as though, capable themselves of suffering, they granted no reality to the suffering of others. ‘The subject exhibited a pain response.’ But not, under any circumstances, we hurt her.

I like you very much as a person,” he said […] “I think I’m going to like you just as much as a woman.”
“I hope so,” she answered with equal formality. “We may have to go a lot of places together.

Faust felt like this. The stars move still, time runs, the clock will strike, the devil will come and Faustus must be damned … How long did he buy with the currency of his soul — ten years?