Melinda M. Snodgrass

““We are penetrating the mysteries of the cosmos, and the secrets of life at its smaller levels.”And it is wrong. You must grasp the purity of the whole, not tear from the Goddess the secrets of her heart.”“Spinoza says that the more we understand individual objects, the more we understand God. I think that is a very profound statement. Why does your goddess fear what my God does not?“The mechanistic path has led mankind to terror and suffering.”“No, ignorance and hatred and intolerance have led mankind to terror and suffering. And not all of our discoveries lead to death.””

““William, please. Heed your heart.”He thrust his foot into the stirrup. “No, it’s a singularly unreliable organ. I think I’ll use my mind, and...consider.””

““William Henry, when you were my student you honored me by noting down my words and philosophical maunderings. What said I on the subject of hate?”“A strong man hates no one, is enraged with no one,” whispered William.Spinoza continued. “He who lives under the guidance of reason endeavors as much as possible to repay hatred with love and nobleness. He who wished to avenge injuries by reciprocal hatred will live in misery. Hatred is increased by reciprocated hatred, and, on the contrary, can be demolished by love.””

“Clouds boiled like a brooding frown in the west, and the sun drew fire from them as it sank burning and orange into their billowing embrace.”

““Terrible things have happened. The de Witts are killed.”“Is this so terrible? They have been your foes from the moment of your birth, and though out of power would have continued to conspire against you.”“Sagi, if we must needs kill our opponents then civilization is a chimera. Governments are formed so that men may disagree without murder, and I tell you true, I loathe a mob more than anything.”“They acted out of love for you.”“That does not comfort me.””

“He suddenly remembered Prince John Maurice’s assessment of the situation in a recent letter: The government lost its head, the people its heart, the country its hope.”

“There is no kindness at courts, only greed and lies and pain.”

“Expediency is the god of princes.”

““I confess a fascination and love for clocks.”“Why?” asked Sagitta.“There is something so reassuring about a device which echoes the movements of stars and sun and planets.”“To seek to understand the spheres is to dull their music,” said the girl softly.“I don’t agree. The better one understands, the more one can appreciate,” replied William.”

““His heart and mind must be pure. He must put aside fornication—”Sagitta chuckled. “Dear Father, sex is the ultimate creative power. Your faith’s rejection of that principle will be its downfall.””

“Magic is only useful against those with an affinity to magic.”

“William too closed his eyes and prayed, but his world had lost its anchor. The Calvinist code which had dominated and supported him throughout his life seemed unequal to his present confusion. It was now apparent that predestination was a meaningless concept—certainly to one who had been told that his actions would directly affect the outcome of history for all time. But did that necessarily negate his faith entirely? Copernicus established that the earth orbited around the sun. Did God die in that moment?Or did man merely understand a little better?”

“Your passion and loyalty do you credit, Hans, but they do little to convince me that you also possess a brain.”

“If you do not act, the world dies, and you with it. Surely survival is worth a little effort? Unless you are so eager to retire to that dismal heaven of your Christian god?”