The modern state is characterized by its ability to concentrate and use power in a way that premodern states could not.
出自北齐·颜之推《颜氏家训·勉学》。不管是愚人还是聪明人，总想自己见多识广，但不肯读书，这就等于想吃饱饭却懒得做饭，想穿暖却懒得缝制衣服。
"The characters in my novels are not just creations; they are fragments of my soul, scattered on the pages."