Quotes About Conflict

Keep out of this, Lucian said. I'm not smiting anybody. You're showing mercy. Catch-a-Tick nodded. That's heroic, too. But not as good as smiting.

she looked into the face of the soldier

Marlene had admitted in class that her boyfriend, a ninth-grader in another town, shoplifted all the time and that although she didn't like it much, she wouldn't dream of reporting him.

The rule for finding plots for character-centered novels, which is to ask: 'So what's the worst possible thing I can do to *this* guy?' And then do it.

War is not its own end, except in some catastrophic slide into absolute damnation. It's peace that's wanted. Some better peace than the one you started with.

And what is your current complaint? I don't like Barrayar, I want to go home, my father-in-law wants to murder my baby, half my friends are running for their lives, and I can't get ten minutes alone with my husband, whom you people are consuming before my eyes, my feet hurt, my head hurts, my soul hurts... It was all too complicated. The poor man just wanted something to put in his blank, not an essay. Fatigue, Cordelia managed at last.

Military intelligence was as nothing to military stupidity.

Truth is always War's first victim, the old saying went.

Lady Peace is the first hostage taken when economic discomfort rises.

Modern warfare wasn't supposed to have this much blood in it. The weapons were supposed to cook everyone neatly, like eggs in their shells. (Mark Vorkosigan's first experience with warfare, on seeing Miles Vorkosigan splattered before him)

But why, in God the Father's name, should they want to destroy Athos? Is Cetaganda—controlled by women or something?" A

a skilled soldier kills your enemies, but a skilled duelist kills your allies. I

Tej glanced toward the balcony. Toward him. Toward the balcony. Toward him. Why is this a hard choice? From the hallway, a teeth-gritting mechanical whine began, as of someone cutting through an airseal door. "You can't tell me you'd rather jump off a twenty-story building and smash in your skull than marry me," Ivan went on desperately. "I am not a fate worse than death, dammit! Or at least not worse than that death, good God!

Cordelia was not at all sure she wanted Piotr present, but until the old man did them all the convenience of dropping dead, she was stuck with him.

Bothari nearly choked at the suggestion. "I swear I'll knock you down and sit on you if you go near those suits," he snarled. "Insubordination, Sergeant," Miles hissed back.

Leo could not, afterwards, recall running forward or swinging Van Atta around to face him, but only Van Atta's surprised, open-mouthed expression. "Bruce," he sang through a red haze, "you smarmy creep—lay off." The uppercut to Van Atta's jaw that punctuated this command was surprisingly effective, considering it was the first time Leo had struck a man in anger in his life. Van Atta sprawled backwards on the concrete. Leo

I spent a career fighting the powers-that-be. Now I am them. Naturally, I was a little confused.

Abuse—physical, mental, emotional?" "Sir?" said Tej, staring up in palpable confusion. "Does your husband beat you?" "No!" "Do you beat him?" "No!" said Ivan. "Good grief, sir!" "Does he insult you?" "Certainly not!" Their voices overlapped on that one.

Mark has everything to do with this! If you hadn't gone downside after him, you would never have been killed. And you wouldn't have been left with some damned cryonic short circuit in your head. You may think he's the greatest invention since the Necklin drive, but I loathe the fat little creep!" "Well, I like the fat little creep! Somebody has to. I swear, you are frigging jealous. Don't be such a damned cast-iron bitch!" They

The president of the League of Women Voters and the Chairwoman of the Sully Township Concerned Citizens' Committee were rumored to be close to trial by combat in city council meetings.

Dr. Yei," Bannerji objected, "if you're trying to knock a man out you've got to hit him a lot harder than that." Yei recoiled fearfully as Van Atta surged up out of his seat. "I didn't want to risk killing him . . ." "Why not?" muttered Bannerji under his breath. Furiously

stings on my butter bugs, Barrayarans would like them better?" "No!" said Miles and Mark together. Enrique sat back, looking rather hurt.

Bree looked up at Mikkel. Please, she said. Just go away. Pretend you neve found us. No. He spit out the word. Sail on home. Leave us behind. No, Mikkel said again.

Maybe I want to be tied down and forced to admit it