““Some days passed before I could rid my thoughts of Thecla of certain impressions belonging to the false Thecla who had initiated me into the anacreontic diversions and fruitions of men and women. Possibly this had an effect opposite to that Master Gurloes intended, but I do not think so. I believe I was never less inclined to love the unfortunate woman than when I carried in my memory the recent impressions of having enjoyed her freely; it was as I saw it more and more clearly for the untruth it was that I felt myself drawn to redress the fact, and drawn through her (though I was hardly conscious of it at the time) to the world of ancient knowledge an privilege she represented. The books I has carried to her became my university, she my oracle.””
![“...in some situations winning consist[s] of disentangling oneself.…” quote by Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/66a/gene-wolfe-2530_oneself_in-some-situations-winning-consist-s-of_219805.jpg)
