Quotes from Boris Akunin

As they say, out with one eye for remembering the past, but if you forget, out with both. And

After all, what is sin? It is an action through which a person betrays his dignity.

Be so kind as not to Frenchify. It really is a stupid habit to stick half of a French phrase into Russian speech," Zurov said irritably, glancing around at the speaker, although he himself interpolated French expressions now and again.

He knew the way he spoke wasn't right, but it was the only way the words came. The thoughts in his head were precise and clear, their meaning was absolutely obvious. But when they emerged in the form of phrases, the superfluous husk simply fell away of its own accord and only the essential idea was left. Probably sometimes rather more fell away than ought to." Excerpt From EF06 - The State Counsellor

Any man was likely to take it amiss if his name were remembered incorrectly, and there was absolutely no point in offending his subordinates unnecessarily.