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The matter, says Mardonios, has gone too far,
the talk it has aroused must be stopped at all cost. —
So Julian goes to the church at Nicomedia,
a lector again, and there
with deep reverence he reads out loud
passages from the Holy Scriptures,
and everyone marvels at his Christian piety.

— Constantine P. Cavafy Collected Poems (1992)

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More quotes by Constantine P. Cavafy

People of Kommagini, let the glory of Antiochos,
the noble king, be celebrated as it deserves.

You won't find a new country, won't find another shore.
This city will always pursue you.

When setting out upon your way to Ithaca,
wish always that your course be long,
full of adventure, full of lore.

Don’t mourn your luck that’s failing now,
work gone wrong, your plans
all proving deceptive — don’t mourn them uselessly.

Collected Poems (1992)

Later, in a more perfect society,
someone else made just like me
is certain to appear and act freely.

Collected Poems (1992)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Constantine P. Cavafy (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.