The first task of a leader is to keep hope alive.

Our value is the sum of our values.

What's this one, Mum? There's no return address, and there's like, five stamps on it. Who's it from?"
Leaning forward to get a closer look at the stamps, I didn't notice the fleeting look of immense sadness pass over her face.
"Oh it's nothing, darling."
I raised my eyebrow at her. She sighed.
"An overseas friend. You wouldn't know her."
And before I could ask what 'her' name was, Mum had left the room.

My mouth fell open in incredulity.
“Ah, Maria. Are you trying to tell me you’ve taken up the sport of fly-catching with your mouth?”
Ros reached over and lifted my chin.
“And an assistant too. So that you don’t scare the little flies away. How wonderful; I didn’t realise it was a team sport. Interesting. Tell me, what do they taste like? I can’t imagine a fly filling any hole in your stomach. How many have you caught?”
“That’s disgusting.” Ros screwed her face up.
“My thoughts exactly.

I hate smug people.”
Ros laughed. “That you do. And so you’re using his phone. He’ll explode, you know.”
“Oh, it’ll be bad. ‘Cause I made all the phone calls on my list.”
There was a pause. “No. You didn’t.”
“I did.”
“Fifty-one phone calls on the off-limits phone?” “Yup.”
“Did you fall down the stairs or something? What is wrong with you?!

Compromise is only comfortable to the man who is outside the presence of God.