Quotes from C.J. Sansom

How men fear the chaos of the world, I thought, and the yawning eternity hereafter. So we build patterns to explain its terrible mysteries and reassure ourselves we are safe in this world and beyond.

Six wives the King's had now.' Barak's words dragged me from my reverie. 'We can't even get one between us.

Fanatics on both sides,' old Ryprose said gloomily. 'And all we poor ordinary folk in the middle. Sometimes I fear they will bring death to us all.

It has driven men to extremes, to the impious arrogance of believing they alone can comprehend the vast mysteries of Scripture, let alone the mind of God. Such people are incapable of understanding even their own minds, for they confuse their own needs, for certainty or power, with God's voice speaking to them.

The echoes of childhood torments have great power, even when not brought to mind in such an inexplicable and horrifying way.

I took the book and glanced at the page Guy was reading. I quoted, 'The rich man's substance is the wellspring of the poor man's living.' Ah yes, that theory, that as the rich grow richer their wealth trickles down to the poor like sand. Well, I have been practising law twenty-five years and all I have seen is it trickle ever upwards.

Huoneesta kuuluva Piersin ääni oli hiljainen mutta veitsenterävä. (C. J. Sansom: Ilmestys, suom. Ilkka Rekiaro)

Nicholas said, 'I hear he's ordered two million bricks for rebuilding that crumbling old family place of his in Wiltshire – what's it called, Wolf's Hole?' 'Wolf Hall. All paid for by the public purse, empty though it is.

Never in England were there so many gentlemen and so little gentleness.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

he would skin a flea for the fat on its arse.

I suppose we were drawn to each other because neither of us quite fitted in.

there is nothing under the moon, however fine, that is not subject to corruption.

conscious that his right leg

Conscience,' Hobbey said with infinite sadness. 'I had one once. Ambition killed it.

This, I thought, was how the real power-play went: conversations in corners and gardens, nods, shrugs, inclinations of the head. But nothing in writing.

I will see you in the Bedlam, displayed as a warning of what perverted religion can do!

But you were wrong; given the right circumstances fascism can infest any country, feeding off the hatreds and nationalisms that already exist. Nobody is safe.' 'I know.

add to all the others he had levied for the war.

And in my wilful blindness I had refused to see what was before my eyes. How men fear the chaos of the world, I thought, and the yawning eternity hereafter. So we build patterns to explain its terrible mysteries and reassure ourselves we are safe in this world and beyond.

One should always be afraid of danger." - Matthew Shardlake, Pg. 29

However much one lacks piety, the atmosphere in a graveyard encourages quiet reflection.

men fear the chaos of the world, I thought, and the yawning eternity hereafter. So we build patterns to explain its terrible mysteries and reassure ourselves we are safe in this world and beyond.

turning in my guts like a torsion.