"The two hardest things to contemplate in life… are failure and age; and those are one and the same.  Perfection is the natural consequence of eternity: wait long enough, and anything will realize its potential.  Coal becomes diamonds, sand becomes pearls, apes become men.  It’s simply not given to us, in one lifetime, to see those consummations, and so every failure becomes a reminder of death."

The story line might be a little used,  with all the books about codes and ancient texts.  However,  the commentary from the point of view of the main character, was good.  I liked him a lot.  I liked the lessons and the stories, the ancient art facts and information that I never would have even thought to ask for.

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