Quotes from Jack Campbell

it is well that war is so terrible, because otherwise people would grow too fond of it

most having reached the places they needed to be and devoted themselves to what needed to be done.

Courage, real bravery, is being afraid and doing what you need to do anyway.

Against stupidity, the gods themselves contend in vain. I'm not even a god.

I realized that success in most things depends on finding people stupid enough to volunteer to try doing them but smart enough to have a chance of succeeding.

the old lament he had heard from the first enlisted sailors he had commanded. Why is there never enough time to do it right but always enough time to do it over?

Mari reached over and retrieved her cup of stew, sipping at it. "It's cold. Yours must be, too. Sorry." Alain picked up his and finished it off quickly. "Between the fire and your presence, I am warm enough.

hungry for breath like a kite falling stray, the wire grows slack the child within pulls at the empty air.

Love needs expression, Captain Geary, or doubts grow amid the silence. Doubts of the other and doubts of yourself.

How can you be so cold-blooded about everything?" She could have sworn that one corner of the Mage's mouth twitched upward for just an instant as he gestured toward the sun beating down upon them. "I am actually quite warm at the moment.

Solo en las vastas extensiones del espacio la luz parece lenta

all of the garbage associated with that

Si todo parece ir según el plan, intenta encontrar algo que hayas pasado por alto y que podría mandarlo todo al garete».

An ancient military leader supposedly once said that it is well that war is so terrible, because otherwise people would grow too fond of it

You should remove your jacket," the Mage said. "Use it to shade your head." She didn't want to remove her one sign of authority, her one piece of armor, though in both respects the jacket offered little right now. "I'm a Mechanic." "I know that. Is there anyone around that you need to impress?

Mari took one more look at the Mechanic boiler, bit her lip, then looked at him. "I'm going to say this because in another minute we may be dead, and I don't want to die not having told you. I love you.

Are you all right? With your Guild, I mean?" Alain considered the question. "They suspect me of being attracted to a Mechanic. They are right, but so far lack proof. They do not suspect that I love you, or who you are, but I have no doubt of what they will do if they discover either of those things." "Oh, blazes." Mari lowered her head to rest her brow against the cool stone of the fortification. "I have ruined your life." "You have given me back my life.

That's the difference between good military commanders and good politicians, John Geary. You've shown me that a good military commander spends the lives of their people reluctantly and with regret, but does spend them when necessary. The good politician does the same thing with principles. There aren't any fine burials for sacrificed principles, though.

The road my elders dictate is a narrow one, and I no longer believe it to be the road to wisdom. I choose my ow road. I choose to do the right thing, as you call it. I would not choose another companion for that road, and should you choose to walk that road with me, it would be..," his voice faltered, unable to put words to Alain's feelings, but he met her eyes, trying to let his feelings show. Perhaps he succeeded this time, because once again Mari blushed and bent her head.

If we run into any legionnaires we'll say we're out hiking and show them our forged imperial identity papers." "What is hiking?" Alain asked. "Walking for fun," Mari explained. "I mean, you're walking long distances, but not because you have to. For fun." Alain gazed steadily at her. "Walking long distances, for fun. Are you saying a joke?" Mari shook her head. "I know it sounds like that, but people really do it.

May the living stars preserve us from those so certain of their own virtue.

It's just common sense," Mari objected. "Help people realize that what they do matters, that their efforts count and that everyone needs to work together, and they'll work and fight better." Patila shook her head. "Such sense is far from common.

I can just imagine the kind of book cover they'll insist on. Some really heroic pose by you doing something you never did, probably. Maybe in battle armor. With a gun." "Like that would ever happen. So if I die, you'll just write a memoir?" "No, I'll probably get a cat, too.

If you don't like who you are, then change who you are!" Kira told him. "If we can keep from being caught you'll have a chance to learn how to do other things.