Quotes from Conn Iggulden

Just as the kids are afraid of the dark, so too are grown ups scared of power. It lures, but, also, consumes. It's a game that mustn't never be taken lightly.

There was no justice in the world—unless he made it for himself. Unless he cut twice as deep as he had been cut and gave back blow for blow. He had the right.

We are soldiers, Highness. We understand tomorrow could be the last day. Or the day after. A soldier has so little control over the time or manner of his ending. He can always choose how he faces it.

Kublai went on as if he had not spoken. "Before you all, in the lands of my enemies, I declare myself great khan of the nation, of the khanates under my brothers, Hulegu and Arik-Boke, of the Chagatai khanate and all others. I declare myself great khan of the Chin lands and the Sung. I have spoken and my word is iron!

Keep him alive," he whispered to the sky father. "Keep him strong and healthy. Keep him alive, for me to kill.

He did not fear such enemies, nor a dozen armies like them. He was khan of the sea of grass and they were just city men, soft and fat for all their bluster and sharp swords. He would cut them down.

You can't hunt a man if he's searching for you

Within two years, they would be attacking us . The emperor has seen what we can do and he will not make the same mistakes again. One chance we have made for ourselves, Khasar. You cannot wound a bear and run. It will chase you down.

There was no destiny in life, nothing beyond what a man could take and hold for himself.

A good decisions are never brought in a state of rage.

I have not given thought to what comes after the battles. Perhaps I will rule. Is that not the right of a conqueror?

The man attempted to salute and Renius forced himself to smile, biting back his temper at the sloppy manners. He watched the fat figure run away into the buildings and wiped the first beads of sweat from his brow. Strange that such men as that should understand loyalty where so many others threw it aside at the first hint of freedom.

There shouldn't be walls among the allies

The eyes show the soul and they are the hardest to conceal.

If he had learned anything in manhood, it was that it didn't matter what other people thought of him—even the ones he respected. In the end, he would patch together a life, with its sorry errors and its triumphs, just as they had.

There is a world outside the one we know," he said softly, "with cultures and races and armies who have never heard of us. Yes, and cities greater than Yenking and Karakorum. To survive, to grow, we must remain strong. We must conquer new lands, so that our army is always fed, always moving. To stop is to die, Chagatai.

Now that we sharpened our teeth, let's use them.

A strong man could bend the sky to suit him, but only for himself, Temujin knew.

Words are not heavy. It does not take more than one of you to carry my reply.

Sometimes it's better to just let the wave overcome you and then pick up the shards when it passes

Genghis snorted. "Men always die in war. Their kings expect it. I want them to know that if they resist me, they are putting their hand in the mouth of a wolf. They will lose everything and they can expect no mercy.

This is a hard land and the people are used to death. If I am to rule them, they must know that to face me is to be destroyed. They must be afraid, Chakahai. It is the only way.

It is the quality of the burden you must consider, Brutus, not the weight.

the fire doesn't know for who is burning.