The Architect's Apprentice

by Elif Shafak

‘Because you’ll compare. If you think you are better than the others, you’ll be poisoned by hubris. If you think another’s better, poisoned by envy. Either way, it is poison.’

‘A cock that crows too soon is calling the butcher,’

‘Well, brother . . . I look at the holier-than-thou. I say to myself, if these chaps are goin’, I sure am goin’, ’cause they are no better than me. That’s how I measure my sins.’