caffeinated reader

“The matter of Caesarion: (I) Yes, he was only seventeen years old. (2) Yes, it was our decision that he be put to death. (3) Yes, it is my judgment that he was the son of Julius. (4) No, he was not put to death because of his name, but because of his ambition, which was inarguable. I spoke to Octavius about his youth, and Octavius reminded me that he himself had been seventeen once, and ambitious.”
― John Williams, Augustus

“I would prefer the weakness of Rome to all the power of the East,” he said, “though I am sure this is not what Antonius had in mind. He expects that if I do not die, I will go under with the problems here. But I will not die, and we will not go under.” He raised himself a little. “We have much to do.”
― John Williams, Augustus

“I do not hate Octavius Caesar, though I would fight him, were that my duty; I do not love Marcus Antonius, though I would die for him were that my duty. It is not the place of the soldier to think of politics, and it is not the business of the soldier to hate or love. It is his duty to fulfill his oath.”
― John Williams, Augustus

“I have learned patience with Athenodorus. Again, I questioned him about this Octavius. “He is a man like any other,” he said. “He will become what he will become, out of the force of his person and the accident of his fate.”
― John Williams, Augustus