Quotes from Alice Hoffman, The Dovekeepers

But what we are given is taken as well, so that we know God's glory comes to us from His will alone.

I loved him even now, as he took a knife to my throat, as I drowned in blood, as I whispered "Cousin, you were wrong. We were born to live.

Our rest is formed by our waking life and our waking life is formed by our sorrows.

Still anyone who trusts a serpent deserves its bite. The wise see a creature for what it is, not what it says it may be.

The stars are reflected from within the black water in the cistern. I find comfort in the omen I glean from this: light in the darkness, truth when it seems there is none.

Every man engaged in war tells himself he can alter what has been written, that it is he, not God, who is the maker of destiny, free to change what is meant to be.

But in battle you cannot tell another when it is his time to enter the World-to-Come, nor is it possible to keep any man in this world when he wishes to leave it behind.

I must keep my head and not give in to desire, for desire is what causes women to drown.