No offence to the Signor Conte del Ferice, but I think ignorance has marked his little party for its own, and inanity waits on all his councils.

If they believe in half the absurdities they utter, why do they not pack up their goods and chattels and cross the frontier?
If they meant anything, they would do something." "Evidently," replied Giovanni, half amused at his Eminence's tirade.
"Evidently.

Therefore they mean nothing.

Therefore our good friend Donna Tullia is dabbling in the emptiness of political dilettanteism for the satisfaction of a hollow vanity; no offence to her--it is the manner of her kind." Giovanni was silent.
"Believe me, prince," said the Cardinal, suddenly changing his tone and speaking very seriously, "there is something better for strong men like you and me to do, in these times, than to dabble in conspiracy and to toss off glasses of champagne to Italian unity and Victor Emmanuel.

The condition of our lives is battle, and battle against terrible odds.
Neither you nor I should be content to waste our strength in fighting shadows, in waging war on petty troubles of our own raising, knowing all the while that the powers of evil are marshalled in a deadly array against the powers of good.