Quotes from Lois McMaster Bujold

Better it seemed to export cheese or cloth, but it was true that fortunes were made in the military trade. Though seldom by the soldiers, any more than by the cheeses. While

Su padre y el Estado Mayor ya lo intentaron hace quince años; les llevó dos años poner los reglamentos al día. - Bueno, eso es lo que pasa con los comités.

Bring home one dismembered body part, once, mind you, once, and people get twitchy about checking your luggage ever after.

The sound Miles's ears had been straining for penetrated the din at last, a high-pitched, multi-faceted whine that grew louder and louder. They loomed down out of the boiling scarlet-tinged clouds like monstrous beetles, carapaced and winged, feet extending even as they watched. Fully armored combat-drop shuttles, two, three, six . . . seven, eight . . . Miles's lips moved as he counted. Thirteen, fourteen, by God. They had managed to get #B-7 out of the shop in time. Miles

Joy is a mark of Them, you see.

Jole wasn't sure of the advisability of introducing a keen young officer to Vorkosigan notions of initiative. Metaphors about fighting fire with gasoline rose to his mind.

Even as a learned divine it was not his place to judge men's souls. The gods in their time would do so without fail and with much fuller knowledge.

Because that's what family was all about, in her experience. They pulled together in a crisis; it was just too bad about the rest of the time.

Certain death still held attraction. Uncertain death, less so. He hurt enough already.

If people were too sensible, the human race might well come to an end. Evolution favored the maximum production of children, not of happiness. So how did you end up with neither?

What do you think, my lord Castillar?" Cazaril swallowed. "I think…I think if you lent me a razor now, for me to cut my throat with, it would save ever so many steps. Please Your Grace." The Provincara snorted. "Good, Cazaril, good. I do so like a man who doesn't underestimate his situation.

Cordelia, thoroughly irritated, said, "Very well. Send the bill to my husband. Admiral Aral Vorkosigan, Vorkosigan House. While you're about it you can explain why you tried to pass off sleaze on his wife—Yeoman." This last was a guess, based on his age and walk, but she could tell from his eyes she'd struck home. The

stings on my butter bugs, Barrayarans would like them better?" "No!" said Miles and Mark together. Enrique sat back, looking rather hurt.

though ORICO went as a royal duty and as a result contracted a head cold. He turned this

I think I was fourteen before I found out that Ivan wasn't your middle name.' Miles cut himself off. That-idiot-Ivan was beginning a lifetime of Imperial service tomorrow.

Her smile grew bitter as desert brine. "The gods may forgive Ista all day long. But if Ista does not forgive Ista, the gods may go hang themselves.

Tej. Will you stay with me for the rest of my life?" At the little jump of the laugh in her chest, his encircling arm tightened, heartened and heartening. He'd intended her to laugh, she guessed. Ivan Xav was good at that, it occurred to her. Making light in dark places.

Cazaril trusted he appeared scholarly enough to fool the young ladies

It's not the ship that's different. It's the men. Leadership is mostly a power over imagination, and never more so than in combat. The bravest man alone can only be an armed lunatic. The real strength lies in the ability to get others to do your work.

Lord Auditor Vorthys, a word before you depart. Madame Vorsoisson"—he took Ekaterin's hand again—"we'll talk more when I am less pressed for time. Security concerns have deferred public recognition, but I hope you realize you've earned a personal account of honor with the Imperium of great depth, which you may draw upon at need and at will." Ekaterin blinked, startled almost to protest.

He dropped them with an impressive thump upon one of the little tables and favored both new pupils with a deliberately sinister smile. If this was to be anything like training young soldiers, young horses, or young hawks, the key was to take the initiative from the first moment, and keep it thereafter. He could be as hollow as a drum, so long as he was as loud.

Each box contained one of the following: live, venomous, agitated snakes on the verge of escape; quiescent venomous snakes; nonvenomous garden snakes; dead snakes; or things that looked like snakes but weren't, such as large, sluggish worms.

Yet if all things end, even despair must, too. Not in my lifetime. But sometime.

people do get hypnotized by the hard choices. And stop looking for alternatives. The will to be stupid is a very powerful force—