Quotes from David Gemmell

We study, said Serbitar. And we train, and we plant flowers and raise horses. Our time is well occupied, I can assure you. No wonder you want to go away and die somewhere, said Rek with feeling.

Paunch? I've a curved spine. Anyway, It's relaxed muscle. He looked down. All right, it's a paunch. A few more days of this and it will go.

Drawing his sword, he gazed down at the gleaming blade. 'I pledge you to the destruction of Sparta,' he whispered. Raising the weapon high he pointed it to the south-east and, though the city was far beyond his range of vision, he pictured the sword poised above it with the sun's harsh light turning it to fire.

You have lived too long in the forest, Laitha; you do not understand the world. Men like to think they control it but this is nonsense. Women rule, as they always have. They tell a man he is god-like. The man believes them and is in their thrall. For without them to tell him, he becomes merely a man.

La creazione richiede tempo e amore, la distruzione solo qualche secondo di follia.

No, but if you will forgive me, let me say this: all children are creatures of joy, and all people are capable of love. You feel you lost everything, but there was a time before your joy when your children did not exist and your wife was unknown to you. Could it not be that there is a woman somewhere who will fill your life with love, and bear you children to bring you joy?

But an old friend once told me that society is like a spear point—wide at the base, pointed at the tip. Democrats believe you can reshape it, removing the point. But as if by magic, it will grow again. There will always be kings, Thetis, and if not kings, then dictators. It is the nature of man to strive to rise above others, to impose his will on all.

No,' said Vintar sternly, 'he has defiled himself. It is important to understand that.

A man takes what the gods thrust upon him.

How delightfully you turn me away - not with strength but with admitted weakness.

Evil will never be countered while good men do nothing.

I choose to pay. I am cursed with a staff a stallion would be proud of. It takes an experienced woman to accept it. There are even some whores who hide when they see me coming.

Siamo tutti foglie, amico mio. La nostra vita paragonata a quella delle montagne e a quella del mare è niente, qualche battito del cuore e via. Niente di ciò che noi costruiamo dura in eterno.

Never violate a woman, nor harm a child. Do not lie, cheat, or steal. These things are for lesser men. Protect the weak against the evil strong. And never allow thoughts of gain to lead you into the pursuit of evil.

would ride into fire. For Odysseus that whip was pride.

You broke the problem down and examined the component parts. Most men attempt to solve riddles by allowing their minds to leap like monkeys from branch to branch, without ever realizing that it is the root that needs examining. Always remember that, young prince. The method works with men as well as it works with riddles.

Names are for friends, young lordling, not to be bandied about among strangers." "Strangers can become friends. In fact, all friends were at some time strangers.

Evil lives in a pit.

As long as you react, your enemy holds your destiny in the palm of his hand. When you force him to react, you hold his neck in yours.

A man must fight for life even when he believes all is lost.

Life is unfair. Do you think your enemies will sit back and wait until you are fresh? Learn to marshal your strength.

Never to let your enemy read your eyes. Do not think of an attack—just do it!

Man alone, it seems, lives all his life in the knowledge of death. And yet there is more to life than merely waiting for death. For life to have meaning, there must be a purpose. A man must pass something on—otherwise he is useless. "For most men that purpose revolves around marriage and children

Well," said Decado, "the great Tertullian was once asked what he would do if he was attacked by a man stronger, faster, and infinitely more skillful than he." "What did he say?" "He said he would cut off his damned head for being a liar.