‘We all die. You… me… The measure of us all is established by how we live.‘
– Vintar, to Rowena, The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend
Tag Archives: David Gemmell
‘When I look at the sky, or the sea, or a beautiful horse, I like to believe in gods. I like to feel there is some order, some meaning to existence.‘
– Parmenion, to Mothac, Lion of Macedon
‘A man must believe something. Otherwise we are merely shifting grains of sand, blown by the wind.‘
– Talisman, to Gorkai, The Legend of Deathwalker
‘You acted in faith with no thought of gain. Even if you are wrong, your god should forgive you.‘
– Decado, to Abaddon, The King Beyond the Gate
‘Truth and falsehood are two different beasts, as different as the lion and the lizard. They are complex animals and they share many of the same features – they both have four legs, two eyes, and a tail. Yet you cannot mistake the one for the other. I know the truth when I see it, and I know the lie.‘
– Odysseus, to Hektor, Fall of Kings
‘We can excuse a demon who stalks the night seeking blood. It is his nature, he was created for just such a purpose. But not a man who by day commits acts of murder and by night returns home to be a good, loving husband and father. For that is evil of a monstrous kind, and casts doubt upon us all.‘
– Owen Odell, to himself, Morningstar
‘Heroes are people who face down their fears. It is that simple. A child afraid of the dark who one day blows out the candle. A woman terrified of the pain of childbirth who says, “It is time to become a mother.” Heroism does not always live on the battlefield.‘
– Karis, to Pooris, Dark Moon
‘Without the darkness of night how can we fully appreciate the glory of the sunrise?‘
– Gamal, to Skilgannon, The Swords of Night and Day
‘And now I am going to tell you a great truth, and if you are wise you will take it to your heart. All men are stupid. They are full of fear and insecurity – it makes them weak. Always the other man seems stronger, more confident, more capable. It is a lie of the worst kind, for we lie to ourselves.‘
– Pagan, to Scaler, The King Beyond the Gate
‘Always listen to fear. Never be ruled by it. Fear is like a cowardly friend. His advice is not always wrong, but, given the chance, he will drag you down into the pit he dwells in.‘
– Jaim Grymauch, to Kaelin Ring, Ravenheart