Quotes from Steve Berry

He stuffed a hand into his back pocket, found his Beretta, and shot the problem in the chest.

Clever be the tongue that can speak without talking. - old saying

when you pick an idiot for a job, you have to expect idiocy

Concentrate on one task at a time and devote your full attention to it. Trying to accomplish two things at once usually produced double mediocrity. Something well done was something done with dedication.

Since 1789 nearly 2000 men and women had served in the U.S. Senate. Those folks could be divided into two broad classes—workhorses and show horses. One got things done, the other took the credit or assigned blame. Of late, that dichotomy had been brought into sharp focus, as the Senate seemed overrun by show horses.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death.

Churchill said, Tact is the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip.

The True Cross, the Crown of Thorns, the Pillar of the Flogging, the Holy Sponge, the Holy Lance, the Nails, and the Holy Blood. The Arma Christi. Weapons of Christ. Instruments of passion.

I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was.

Something he learned long ago came to mind. Stir a person up and they could be made to think. Add in anger and they'll screw up, sure as hell.

Nearly every president had wanted a second term, despite the fact that history clearly taught the last four years would be nothing like the first. Either the president became overly aggressive, knowing he had nothing to lose, which alienated both supporters and detractors. Or he became cautious, placid, and docile, not wanting to do anything that might affect his legacy.

Until the lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunters.

War doesn't determine who's right, only who's left. And that had not been him.

Something about history stirred him. He liked following in its footsteps.

I will check the hall to see if all is clear. He lightly grasped her arm. thanks. For everything. You are welcome, Miles Lord. You brought interest to an otherwise boring ride.

ethnobotanist

If men were angels, no government would be necessary - James Madison

How could anyone believe that a political system could provide all of the goods and services a people needed without cost? A daily gratification that would eliminate greed, selfishness, miserliness, and infidelity. A place where man could become noble, strong, and courageous. Crime, violence, and social ills would vanish. It's absurd. The experiment called the Soviet Union only proved that none of that is possible.

It's not so much the wars as the treaties that follow that truly alter the course of history. The Marshall Plan changed the world more expressly than World War II itself. Words are indeed the true weapons of mass destruction.

Interesting how dictators required shows of greatness as a way to prove they were entitled to power. Democratically elected leaders never have such a need since the people themselves vested them with power, and no one expected perfection. In fact, failure could be another stepping-stone to greatness. Dictators never accept failure. They preferred to have their mistakes forgotten, overshadowed with spectacle.

Anger seemed always directed at individuals—hatred preferred classes. Time cured anger, but never hatred.

Knowledge is the first thing eradicated once power is attained. History has proven that over and over.

Nothing seemed sacred anymore. Facebook, Twitter, and every other social media site seemed proof positive of that. What no one would have ever yelled from their front porch to neighbors across the street was now posted for billions to see for all eternity. Still, he loved the internet. So much could be learned so fast with little effort and no fingerprints.

Never let your opponent speak unilaterally.