"'Marvelous,' Alessandro said. 'If I had your strength, I could unite Europe in a week and a half.' 'You were young,' Nicolo challenged. 'Did you unite Europe?' Alessandro said: 'I was too busy thinking about girls and climbing mountains'" (Rome, August p. 27).

"Alessandro did not indulge Nicolo's lack of belief in himself. 'Look, stupid,' he said, turning Nicolo from red to white. 'It'll be hard enough for you to rise. Fate, circumstances, and other men will at times be almost overwhelmingly against you. You'll be able to beat them only if you don't join them, only if you don't condemn yourself from the start, If you have no faith in yourself, who will?'" (Rome, August, p. 44).

"'If you really want to enjoy life, you must work quietly and humbly to realize your delusions of grandeur,' Alessandro said" (Rome, August, p. 45).

"Throughout...