The Mask of Apollo Quotes

“In hatred is love, we grow like the thing we brood upon. What we loathe, we graft into our very soul.”
― Mary Renault, The Mask of Apollo

“Presently, he looked at the people standing round and said, "You have leave to go."
They bowed out. When the lads behind him started to follow, he reached out and caught one by the arm, saying, "No, you stay, Hephaistion." The tall boy came back with a lightening of all his face, and stood close beside him. He said to me, "The others are the Companions of the Prince; but we two are just Hephaistion and Alexander."
"So it was" I said, smiling at them, "in the tent of Achilles".
He nodded; it was a thought he was used to.”
― Mary Renault, The Mask of Apollo

“Speak for me, Nikeratos. Someone's soul is always listening." Someone's always is, I suppose, if one only knew. Plato never forgot it.”
― Mary Renault, The Mask of Apollo

“Men are seldom helpless against their own evil wishes, and in their souls they know it. But common men love flattery not less than tyrants, if anyone will sell it to them. If they are told that the struggle for the good is an illusion, that no one need be ashamed to drop his shield and run, that the coward is the natural man, the hero is fable, many will be grateful. But will the city, or mankind, be better?’

No being a sophist, trained to bring out answers pat, I could only say, 'But it’s such marvelous theater.”
― Mary Renault, The Mask of Apollo

“We are weary of ourselves, and have dreamed a king. If now the gods have sent us one, let us not ask him to be more than mortal.”
― Mary Renault, The Mask of Apollo

“Certainly, I thought, Dion means to have his way. But I suppose that's what makes a king.”
― Mary Renault, The Mask of Apollo

“I came for the cause. Since I could not help, at least don't let me remember that I hindered it. I've learned how to manage on the ship; it will be nothing, after all this. Goodbye, Niko. You have made me a truer philosopher. Go with God.”
― Mary Renault, The Mask of Apollo