Paladin of Souls (World of the Five Gods, #2)

by Lois McMaster Bujold

An enemy might drop his guard, weary of his task, turn his back; love would never falter.

Who am I, when I am not surrounded by the walls of my life?

How like a man, to change from mask to mask like a player, concealing all intention, yet leave his heart out on the table, carelessly, unregarded, for all to behold.

What was raving incoherence to others might prove plain as god light to a madwoman.

no pretext for japery,

She approached the possessed animal, who lowered its head again and laid its face flat to her bloody bodice in what might be submission, love, or dementia.

the gods did not desire flawless souls, but great ones. I think that very darkness is where the greatness grows from, as flowers from the soil. I am not sure, in fact, if greatness can bloom without it.

Attempts fail, but not as certainly as tasks never attempted.”