Quotes from Timothy Zahn

The odds are never impossible," Thrawn said calmly. "Merely unfavorable.

Did Thrawn even recognize the depth of loyalty he inspired in those who worked with him? Knowing Thrawn, probably not.

But there's a school of thought that says if you're going to go down in flames anyway, you might as well be the one lighting the matches.

You asked what I hoped to gain by meeting you on the bridge, Admiral?" Thrawn asked softly. Savit looked back at Thrawn. The blue face was still calm, but the glowing eyes seemed to have taken on a new intensity. "So tell me," he invited. "It's very simple," Thrawn said. "I wished for a better view of the coming battle.

There are few traps that cannot be turned against their designers.

A writer absolutely has to make his villains clever and competent. It's no fun—and no challenge—for the heroes to get out of trouble without sweating about it first.

All beings begin their lives with hopes and aspirations. Among these aspirations is the desire that there will be a straight path to those goals. It is seldom so. Perhaps never.

Yes, but in spite of such a shady origin, it's really quite good," Luke told him. "It's called hot chocolate.

You're my brother, and my friend. Thrass countered. If it's important to you, it's important to me.

Thrawn smiled—a smile that sent a shiver up Pellaeon's back. Why, the only puzzle worth solving, of course, the Grand Admiral said softly. The complete, total, and utter destruction of the Rebellion.

One of the first rules the Emperor had drummed into her [Mara Jade] so long ago was to blend in as best she could with her surroundings

She was here, and it was now; and as the emperor's instructors had so often drummed into her, the first item of business was to fit into her surroundings. And that meant not looking like an escapee from the medical ward

Because it's easier? Samakro growled. This is the Expansionary Defense Fleet, Caregiver. We don't do things just because they're easier. We do things because they work.

Luck is merely an illusion, trusted by the ignorant and chased by the foolish

Leave it to the Alderaanians to slap a cheery end on a nice little grisly children's morality tale.

Grand Admiral Thrawn could perhaps have breathed the remaining sparks into an Imperial Victory. But Grand Admiral Thrawn was gone.

Fine," Vanto said. The musculature of his throat relaxes partially, but not fully. "Personally, I'd be a lot more concerned about him, but that's up to you. But I'm still the bottom man on the roster. Why do you even care about me?" "You are my translator. You hold my words in your hand, and their meanings. A misjudged translation will confuse or anger. A deliberate error could lead to death.

He cares about non-Chiss lives. Yes, he does, Samakro agreed. You threaten his people, and see how fast that changes.

But I would also warn against diverting too many of the Empire's resources from a flexible navy of capital ships and starfighters to massive projects that can bring the Imperial presence to only one system at a time.

Hang on a minute, Mara said, stepping away from the viewport and her tantalizingly brief vision of the future. As Luke had said, this was the present. The future would take care of itself. I'll come with you.

Leadership and obedience are the two legs on which a warrior's life is balanced. Without both, victory cannot be achieved. Leadership depends on information and comprehension. Not so obedience. Sometimes a commander may choose to share details of his plan. Often he may not. In either case, obedience must be instant and complete. Such automatic response relies on trust between commander and those commanded. And that trust can only be obtained through leadership.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….

Pellaeon was a good officer, but he'd never had quite the degree of personal loyalty that Savit liked in his subordinates. Sending him off to the station, away from what was about to happen out here, was simply a prudent thing to do.

I'm talking about the fact that Stardust is doomed," Savit said. "It may survive five years, or ten, maybe even fifty. But somewhere during its service lifetime, someone will figure out a way to disable or even destroy it.