Quotes from David Gemmell

All men have talents. Some build, some paint, some write, some fight. For me it is different.

A man should not risk his life for beauty alone, Kiall, for that fades. You might as well risk it for a rose. Think on it.

Each man has a breaking point, no matter how strong his spirit. Somewhere, deep inside him, there is a flaw that only the fickle cruelty of fate can find.

No one can take away the freedom of a man's soul.

Bow to nothing, son. I make mistakes as well as any man. If you think me wrong, be so good as to damn well say so.

Your men are brave men, And you have won. I can live with that, Earl of Bronze a poor man would I be if I could not.

The nature of a coward is to avoid death. If such a man courts peril there can be only two reasons. Either he is not a coward at all or there is no danger.

A man cannot spend his life worrying about the unexpected.

War. What was it about the prospect of some bloody enterprises that reduced men to the level of animals?

Evil will never be countered while good men do nothing.

Every man has his own reason for every deed. Usually it is selfish.

You are getting too old for this. A man is as old as he feels, woman! And how old do you feel? About ninety.

Never be glad that another man has died. Not ever. [...] It never ends. Never... ever... be glad to kill.

A man must know his limitations.

A man can overcome his background, even as he can overcome a skilled opponent.

There are times, Sember, when I could believe your mother had a secret lover. Looking at you makes me wonder if it was one of my goats.

By nature of definition only the coward is capable of the highest heroism

I am not going to talk about patriotism, duty, liberty, and the defense of freedom because that's all dung to a soldier.

Be at peace, my friend. One thing I have learnt about Death is that his bark is worse than his bite.

Trust your instincts, and make judgements on what your heart tells you. The heart will not betray you.

Nothing of real worth can ever be bought. Love, friendship, honour, valour, respect. All these things have to be earned.

I may be stupid, as you say, to believe in honour and friendship and loyalty without price. But these are virtues to be cherished, for without them we are no more than beasts roaming the land.

What will you do now?' I think I will become a monk and devote my entire life to prayer and good works.' No,' said Rek. 'I mean, what will you do today?' Ah! Today I'll get drunk and go whoring,' said Bowman.

It is hard to be angry when one has seen the sun rise,' she said. It seems to be true,' he admitted. 'I wonder why.' Because it makes one feel so small and insignificant. It has been rising forever and will rise forever no matter what we do or do not do. All our problems are as nothing to the sun.