All the Devils Are Here (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #16)

by Louise Penny

everyone had strengths. And weaknesses. The important thing was to recognize them. And not expect something from someone who didn’t have it to give.

How long it takes to build something, he thought, and how quickly it can all be destroyed. A look. A harsh word. A moment of distraction. A spark.

How many bright young executives, fresh off an MBA, or a P.Eng., dreamed of mass murder? None. No, that sort of sickness took time and a certain environment.

Only the most disciplined, or the most stubborn, stuck to a plan when the first blow landed. The key was knowing when to adapt, and when to hold firm.