‘True love is rare. Take it where you find it. That is all I have to say.‘
– Gorkai, to Talisman, The Legend of Deathwalker
Tag Archives: David Gemmell
‘Never violate a woman, nor harm a child. Do not lie, cheat or steal. These things are for lesser men. Protect the weak against the evil strong. And never allow thoughts of gain to lead you into the pursuit of evil.‘
– Shadak, to Druss, The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend
‘That our defence will fail is no reason to avoid the battle.‘
– Vintar, to The Thirty, Legend
‘It is not a crime to be frightened. I am frightened. Anyone with any intelligence would be frightened. Fear is necessary. It is there to keep us alive; to warn us to avoid danger.‘
– Skilgannon, to Rabalyn, White Wolf
‘You will see evil deeds, and you will feel what you believe to be righteous rage swelling in your hearts. Such righteous rage is a lie. See it for what it is. A deceiver, a trick to allow us to become as vile as those we fight.‘
– The Wyrd of Wishing Tree Woods, to Kaelin Ring, Ravenheart
‘There are, it seems to me, two kinds of pride. One urges a man to disguise his shortcomings for fear of looking foolish. The second spurs him on to eliminate those shortcomings.‘
– Owen Odell, to himself, Morningstar
‘The moves are the same, but the difference is wider than the Great Green. Love is like that. You can spend time with a whore, and laugh and know great pleasure. But when love strikes – ah, the difference is awesome. You will find more joy in the touch of a hand, or the sight of a smile, than you could ever experience in a hundred nights of passion with anyone else. The sky will be more blue, the sun more bright.‘
– Odysseus, to Helikaon, Lord of the Silver Bow
‘All things that live must die. Man alone, it seems, lives all his life in the knowledge of death. And yet there is more to life than merely waiting for death. For life to have meaning, there must be a purpose. A man must pass something on – otherwise he is useless.’‘
– Vintar, to Rek, Hogun and Bowman, Legend
‘A long time ago, when he was a child, a holy man had told him a story. It was about a man who came to the end of his days and, looking back, he saw his footprints in the sands of his life. And beside them was a second set, which he knew to be God’s. But when the man looked closely he saw that in the times of his greatest trouble there was only a single set. The man looked at God and asked, ‘Why is it that you left me when my need was greatest?’ And God replied, ‘I never left you, my son.’ And then the man asked, ‘Why then was there only one set of footprints?’ God smiled and replied, ‘Because those were the times when I carried you.’‘
– Jon Shannow, to himself, The Last Guardian
‘You’ll hear people say that pride is a sin. Ignore them. Pride is vital. Not excessive pride, mind you. That is merely arrogant stupidity. No, being proud of yourself is what counts. Do nothing that is mean and spiteful, petty or cruel. And never give way to evil, no matter what the cost. Be proud, girl. Stand tall.‘
– Keeva’s Uncle, to Keeva Taliana, Hero in the Shadows