The Prisoner of Heaven: A Novel

A good liar knows that the most efficient lie is always a truth that has had a key piece removed from it.

I don’t belong to any side,’ Fermín replied. ‘What’s more, I think flags are nothing but painted rags that represent rancid emotions. Just seeing someone wrapped up in one of them, spewing out hymns, badges and speeches, gives me the runs. I’ve always thought that anyone who needs to join a herd so badly must be a bit of a sheep himself.’

‘Do you know, Daniel? Sometimes I think that Darwin made a mistake and that in fact man is descended from the pig, because eight out of every ten members of the human race are swine, and as crooked as a hog’s tail.’

‘In this world, everything is a fake, young man. Everything except money.’

His expression made me think of a weasel examining freshly laid eggs in a chicken coop.