Quotes About Intrigue

When Emperor Shun died in 144, the government came into the hands of his widowed Empress Liang, now regent Dowager, and her brother Liang Ji. The emperor's only son died in infancy a few months after his father's death, and in such circumstances the Dowager had absolute right to choose any male of the imperial clan for the succession. The Dowager and her brother selected the seven-year-old Liu Zuan, but after he showed signs of resenting their control he became ill and died.

the British adroitly played Indians against fellow-Indians. Obligingly, Indians betrayed one another.

Goods and cash worth crores of rupees lie buried to my knowledge in the palace of my late father-in-law (Qamruddin) besides heaps of gold and silver stored inside the ceiling. Complete disagreement exists among the emperor, his wazirs and nobles. If you invade India this time, the Indian Empire with all its riches of crores will fall into your hands.

One of the most fascinating aspect of humans is their 'object of fascination' which makes them remarkably unique from each other!

Unlike the rest he had seen of the bungalow, the hall beyond the door was dark. He could see the glimmer of three doors and several framed photographs lined up along the walls. The sound of flies was louder, though they didn't seem to be in the hall itself. Now that he was closer they sounded even more like someone groaning feebly, and the rotten smell was stronger too.

Would-be Machiavellis, some long dead before the Florentine statesman himself ever lived, anticipate the historian's enquiries by booby-trapping evidence, laying false trails, and liquidating artifacts. (This might have been what Napoleon had in mind when he blew off the nose of the Sphinx. Or was it Mohammed Sa'im al-Dahr who did it, in 1378 A.D.? No one really knows.)

Everything about her seems to be saying, Listen, if you don't look attentively, if you don't go beyond my simplicity to detect the simmering volcano in me, you are not it.

Mysteries abound where most we seek for answers.

There must be something in books, something we can't imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don't stay for nothing.

Yardley's The American Black Chamber

a thin coating of fur on her face and she was smiling around small, unfinished fangs. She was flanked

The enchantment of intelligence seems to be reduced to "nothing" when we fully understand its methods. The mystery that is left is the intrigue inspired by the remaining, not as yet understood methods of intelligence.

He wondered if she wondered if he were watching her.

I stepped out into the night air that nobody had yet found out how to option. But a lot of people were probably trying. They'd get around to it.

It was a blonde. A blonde to make a bishop kick a hole in a stained-glass window.

She gave me a smile I could feel in my hip pocket.

The girl gave him a look which ought to have stuck at least four inches out of his back.

The streets were dark with something more than night.

She lowered her lashes until they almost cuddled her cheeks and slowly raised them again, like a theatre curtain. I was to get to know that trick. That was supposed to make me roll over on my back with all four paws in the air.

In writing a novel, when in doubt, have two guys come through the door with guns.

Tall, aren't you?" she said. "I didn't mean to be." Her eyes rounded. She was puzzled. She was thinking. I could see, even on that short acquaintance, that thinking was always going to be a bother to her.

Inquiétant, non, un homme qui ne dit rien. Je ne sais pas si vous l'avez constaté, mais quand un homme ne dit rien alors que tout le monde parle, on n'entend plus que lui! Redoutable !

I know you'll think this odd, but I find it strangely exhilarating not knowing what's coming next.

Most love stories are nocturnal. That's what makes them so fascinating.