David

“Would you like to come sit over here?” Sensei said in a low voice. “Yes,” I replied, my voice also low. The seat on the other side of the man with the newspaper, next to Sensei, was empty. I told the bartender that I was moving. I picked up my saké bottle and cup and changed seats. “Thanks,” I said, and Sensei murmured something almost inaudibly in response. And then, both of us still facing forward, we each resumed drinking our own saké, together. After we paid our separate checks, we parted the shop curtain and stepped outside. It wasn’t as cold as I expected, and stars were twinkling in the sky. We had finished drinking later than usual.”
― Hiromi Kawakami, Strange Weather in Tokyo

“The wish to acquire is in truth very natural and common, and men always do so when they can, and for this they will be praised not blamed; but when they cannot do so, yet wish to do so by any means, then there is folly and blame.”
― Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince

“That’s what flies do.”
― Hiromi Kawakami, Strange Weather in Tokyo

“But when states are acquired in a country differing in language, customs, or laws, there are difficulties,”
― Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince