Every man has within him only one life and one nature ... It behooves a man to look within himself and turn to the best dedication possible those endowments he has from his Maker. You do no wrong in questioning what once you held to be right for you, if now it has come to seem wrong. Put away all thought of being bound. We do not want you bound. No one who is not free can give freely.

the success of a holiday depends on what you find for yourself on the spot, not what you bring with you.

You cannot demand truth, and then select half and throw the inconvenient remainder away.

To have faith in Divine protection is good, but even beter if backed by the pratical assistance heaven has a right to expect from sensible mortals.

Bitter though it may be to many, Cadfael concluded, there is no substitute for truth, in this or any case.

Brother Cadfael knew better than to be in a hurry, where souls were concerned. There was plenty of elbow-room in eternity.

Death, after all, is the common expectation from birth. Neither heroes nor cowards can escape it.