Quotes from Joe Abercrombie

History is not the story of battles between right and wrong, but between one man's right and another's. Evil is not the opposite of good. It is what we call another man's notion of good when it differs from ours.

He was naked aside from a cloth tied round his waist. To spare the delicate sensibilities of the ladies present. Watching a man's entrails spilling out is excellent entertainment, but the sight of his cock, well, that would be obscene. A

Unity and respect, it seemed, were only for those who did as they were told.

You know my work. One more step and I'll set to work on you, you fucking swollen pig.

Secrets, power. It's all a metaphor.

I bloody hate people," she muttered, snatching another loaf from Safrit's hand. It was hardly the good thing to say but for once Brand couldn't keep his mouth shut. "Don't worry." He dragged his blanket over one shoulder and turned his back on her. "They feel much the same about you.

Unhappy times are the best for levity. You don't light candles in the middle of the day, do you?

The Bloody-Nine opened his mouth, and shrieked out all of his bottomless love and his endless hate in one long wail.

He shook his head as he peered down at the corpses. "Some courage, to come at us like this, over and over, against defences so strong and so well manned. I've rarely seen men so willing to give their lives." "They have that most strange and dangerous of qualities," said Cosca. "They think they're in the right.

A good thief goes unseen. A truly great one merely goes unnoticed. She

Love and hate have just a knife's edge between them.

Gold and silver is everything to everyone. Some of us have enough of it to pretend otherwise.

You'd have to be a bold man to bet your life on what I'd dare. How bold are you? -Sand dan Glokta

It was a fact, he was only now beginning to realise, that the conversation of the drunk is only interesting to the drunk. A few glasses of wine can be the difference between finding a man a hilarious companion or an insufferable moron.

Vengeance can feel fine, but it's a luxury. It doesn't fill your belly, or keep the rain off.

I have a plan," said Nothing. "Does it involve a sword?" asked Jaud. A pause. "All my plans do." "Do you have a sword?" Another. "No." "How will your plan work without one?" muttered Sumael. A third. "Death waits for us all.

My suspicions grow with every passing moment. They are never laid to rest. They only change shape.

The worst enemies are the ones that live next door,

The world is a grey place. A place of half-truths. Of half-wrongs and half-rights. Yet there are things worth fighting for, and they must be pursued with all our vigour and commitment. Half-measures achieve nothing.' 'What

I'd hate to be lost. But prepare yourself for the possibility of disappointment. Life is full of them." And the manner of its endings is often the greatest one of all.

Hay que aprender las lecciones de la historia. Los errores del pasado deben cometerse una sola vez —hizo una breve pausa y luego añadió—. A menos que no haya otro remedio.

Vengeance only walks a circle. From blood, back to blood. Death waits for us all. You can follow your path to her bent under a burden of rage. I did, for many years. You can let it poison you.

Truly clever things are said with short words. Long ones are used to hide stupidity

Some men you stick to right off. But it's those that take time to stick that stick longest.