Death Masks

The blood on their hands does not make it right to bloody my own. My choices are measured against my own soul. Not against the stains on theirs.

Her expression became confused. "I don't understand."
"You could have lied."
Her face registered comprehension, and some fire came back into her eyes. "I don't like you, Mister Dresden. I certainly don't care enough for you to abandon beliefs I hold dear, to us you as an excuse to cheapen myself, or to betray what my husband stands for."

Change. Maybe that's what this was really about. Susan had changed. She'd grown. She was more relaxed than I remembered, more confident. There had always been a sense of purpose to her, but now it seemed deeper, somehow. She'd found a place for herself, somewhere where she felt she could do some good.

"So if you're not religious, you risk your life to help other people because - ?"
"Because it must be done," he answered without hesitation. "For the good of the people, some must place themselves in harm's way. Some must pledge their courage and their lives to protect the community."
"Just a minute," I said. "You became a Knight of the Cross because you were a communist?"

Looking on someone's soul is something you never forget.
No matter how badly you might want to.

Люди видят лица. Видят кожу. Флаги. Членские списки. Досье. Бог видит сердца.

— Я не колдун, — возразил я. — Я чародей.
— А что, есть разница?
— Чародей начинается с буквы «Ч».

Нет хуже врагов, чем идейные, упертые, готовые к самопожертвованию психи.

– Моя вера хранит меня. А мой кевлар помогает ей в этом.

– А вы тогда, полагаю, что-то вроде ангела, да?   
– Блин, да нет же! – сказал я. – Я на них только работаю.