Quicksilver (The Baroque Cycle #1)

by Neal Stephenson

Talent was not rare; the ability to survive having it was.

It may seem hard for you to believe, but mark my word—whenever serious and competent people need to get things done in the real world, all considerations of tradition and protocol fly out the window.”

“In the wilderness, only the most terrible beasts of prey cavort and gambol. Deer and rabbits play no games.”

Daniel felt about the place as a Frenchman felt about the French language, which was to say that it all made perfect sense once you understood it, and if you didn’t understand it, then to hell with you.

for fame’s a weed, but repute is a slow-growing oak, and all we can do during our lifetimes is hop around like squirrels and plant acorns.