The Prodigal Daughter (Kane and Abel Book 2)

His private minor loans were numerous, but he would inquire strictly into the circumstances both before and after. In this way a man gathers a domain in his neighbours’ hope and fear as well as gratitude; and power, when once it has got into that subtle region, propagates itself, spreading out of all proportion to its external means.

From the new tutor he had learned two things: never to gamble unless the odds are tipped in your favor by your own superior knowledge or skill, and always be willing to walk away from a deal when you have reached your limit.

me: imagine that you yourself are building the edifice of human destiny with the object of making people happy in the finale, of giving them peace and rest at last, but for that you must inevitably and unavoidably torture just one tiny creature, that same child who was beating her chest with her little fist, and raise your edifice on the foundation