Private victories precede public victories.

Private victories precede public victories. You can't invert that process any more than you can harvest a crop before you plant it.

Public behavior is merely private character writ large.

Sometimes it is more victorious to lose than to win.

Roland glares at Connor and Connor glares back. Then he says what he always says at moments like this.
"Nice socks."
Although Roland doesn't look down right away, it derails him just enough for him to back off. He doesn't check to see if his socks match until he thinks Connor isn't looking. And the moment he does, Connor snickers. Small victories are bet­ter than none.

I know of no book which has been a source of brutality and sadistic conduct, both public and private, that can compare with the Bible