Sarah Zettel

"Here’s the thing about constant surveillance—the question you must ask yourself is not “Am I being overheard?” but “Is anybody paying attention to me?"

"He found me fascinating, in a wounded-bird kind of way. I found him wonderful, in a lifeline kind of way. It was mutual need that passed for love, and got married."

"Power looks startlingly similar wherever you go. Power does not want you to forget that you are small and alone."

"This is what hope does to you when you’re not used to it. It is very like being drunk. You don’t realize how badly you’re impaired until you see the results of your spree."

"For a moment hope, bright and cruel as a knife, presented itself to me. It took every ounce of strength I had to turn away."

"Somehow, you expect places you’ve left to freeze, like your memories of them have. It’s egotistical, but no one really wants to believe the world goes on without them."

"When all else fails, be willing to look like a fool. Maybe they will underestimate you later about something really important."

"He did not like Ambassador Bern’s diplomatic response. Probably he was the sort that preferred to be the only liar in the room."