"To hate excellence is to hate the gods."
— Mary Renault (The Persian Boy)

"The rightness of a thing isn't determined by the amount of courage it takes."
— Mary Renault

"It is better to believe in men too rashly, and regret, than believe too meanly. Men could be more than they are, if they would try for it."
— Mary Renault

"It is better to learn war early from friends, than late from enemies"
— Mary Renault (The Bull from the Sea)

"It is better to believe in men too rashly, and regret, than believe too meanly. Men could be more than they are, if they would try for it. He has shown them that."
— Mary Renault (The Persian Boy)