We were the best of friends, we were the worst of enemies

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,

it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity

it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness,

it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,

we had everything before us, we had nothing before us,

we were the best of friends, we were the worst of enemies

-Adapted from the opening of Tales of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens