That’s the thing, ” she said. “You add on getting rid of starvation and poverty like it’s a fringe benefit. Like the slice of lemon you get with a plate of whitebait.” He laughed. “That’s why I succeed, ” he said, “where the men with beautiful souls always fail. If you walk through the market asking the stallholders to give you a slice of lemon for free, they’d laugh in your face. Pay for the whitebait and you get a good meal of whitebait for your money, plus the free lemon. K.J. Parker
About This Quote

He described a scenario that his girlfriend was describing. She said that she thought that people who were good at life should not have to pay for every aspect of their lives. She said that everyone should have to pay for what they want and not have to pay for what they don’t want. He said that he doesn’t do anything to help those in need without having to pay for it as well.

If he wants a slice of lemon, he has to pay for the whitebait as well. This is the way things are now. That’s why he succeeds where those with beautiful souls always fail.

Source: The Folding Knife

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