David Gemmell > Quotes

“We make choices everyday, some of them good, some of them bad. And - if we are strong enough - we live with the consequences.”
― David Gemmell

“Warriors fear surrender. They are proud and defiant. They will fight to the death for what they believe in. They will struggle to conquer. Love is not about conquest. The truth is a man can only find true love when he surrenders to it. When he opens his heart to the partner of his soul and says: 'here it is! the very essence of me! It is yours to nurture or destroy.”
― David Gemmell

“What will you do now?'

I think I will become a monk and devote my entire life to prayer and good works.'

No,' said Rek. 'I mean, what will you do today?'

Ah! Today I'll get drunk and go whoring,' said Bowman.”
― David Gemmell, Legend

“It is hard to be angry when one has seen the sun rise,' she said.
It seems to be true,' he admitted. 'I wonder why.'
Because it makes one feel so small and insignificant. It has been rising forever and will rise forever no matter what we do or do not do. All our problems are as nothing to the sun.”
― David Gemmell, Sword in the Storm

“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 persuit of evil.”
― David Gemmell, White Wolf (Drenai Saga, #10)

“I may be stupid, as you say, to believe in honour and friendship and loyalty without price. But these are virtues to be cherished, for without them we are no more than beasts roaming the land.”
― David Gemmell, Shield of Thunder

“I have discovered in my long life that there are many words and phrases which have more power than any spell of magick. The most well-known of these is, of course, I love you. But by far the most deadly is, if only. For these two words can strip a man's strength, his courage and his confidence. They become the father of regret and anguish and pain.”
― David Gemmell, Morningstar

“Nothing of real worth can ever be bought. Love, friendship, honour, valour, respect. All these things have to be earned.”
― David Gemmell, Shield of Thunder

“She was his north star, the fixed point round which his world turned. For as long as his heart beat, or hers, he believed they would always share a destiny.”
― David Gemmell, Fall of Kings

“Man is capable of greatness, love, nobility, compassion. Yet never forget that his capacity for evil is infinite. It is a sad truth, boy, that if you sit now and think of the worst tortures that could ever be inflicted on another human being, they will already have been practiced somewhere. If there is one sound that follows the march of humanity, it is the scream.”
― David Gemmell

“If there is one sound the follows the march of humanity, it is the scream.”
― David Gemmell

“They dont understand what real treasure is. They see it in gold and copper, and tin. They see in herds of horses or cattle. They gather treasures to themselves, building great storehouses, which they guard ferociously. Then they die. What good is it then?”
― David Gemmell

“I would have offered you a forest of truth, but you wish to speak of a single leaf”
― David Gemmell, Fall of Kings

“To be truthful i am not entirely sure what people mean when they talk of happiness. There are moments of joy and laughter, the comfort of friendship, but enduring happiness? If it exists i have not found it”
― David Gemmell

“What is your name?"
Why?"
So I can mark your grave...”
― David Gemmell, Wolf in Shadow

“May all your dreams but one come true, for what is life without a dream?”
― David Gemmell

“If you want to fight evil, you have to climb down in the slime to do so.”
― David Gemmell

“You do not convince me. You rationalize your actions and because the result is favorable you become right.”
― David Gemmell, Lord of the Silver Bow

“There is a darkness in you. In all of us, probably. Beasts we keep chained. Ordinary men have to keep the chains strong, for if we let the beast loose then society will turn upon us with fiery vengeance. Kings though...well, who is there to turn upon them? So the chains are made of straw. It is the curse of kings, Helikaon, that they can become monsters. And they invariably do.”
― David Gemmell, Shield of Thunder

“Trust your instincts, and make judgements on what your heart tells you. The heart will not betray you.”
― David Gemmell, Fall of Kings

“I was a man before I was a king, and no true man walks away when a friend needs him.”
― David Gemmell, Fall of Kings

“Hate is the father of all evil.”
― David Gemmell, Fall of Kings

“By nature of definition only the coward is capable of the highest
heroism”
― David Gemmell, Legend

“Miracles are merely events that happen just when they are needed.”
― David Gemmell

“Fear is good, for it makes us cautious and aids survival. Not so with terror. It is like slow poison, paralyzing the limbs and blurring the mind. . . Never, when in danger, ask yourself, What will they do to me? Instead think, What can I do to prevent them?”
― David Gemmell, Morningstar

“Old age is not as honorable as death, but most people seek it.”
― David Gemmell, Fall of Kings

“The purpose of debates is to explore issues, not end them.”
― David Gemmell, Lord of the Silver Bow

“True. The one certainty about riding, Braygan, is that - at some time - you will fall off. It is a fact. Another fact you might like to consider, in your life of perpetual terror, is that you will die. We are all going to die, some of us young, some of us old, some of us in our sleep, some of us screaming in agony. We cannot stop it, we can only delay it.”
― David Gemmell, White Wolf (Drenai Saga, #10)

“Why now? Why not? Live or die, a man and a woman need love. There is a need in the race. We need to share. To belong. Perhaps you will die before the year is out. But remember this: to have may be taken from you, to have had never. Far better to have tasted love before dying, than to die alone.”
― David Gemmell, Legend

“There are times, Sember, when I could believe your mother had a secret lover. Looking at you makes me wonder if it was one of my goats.”
― David Gemmell, The King Beyond the Gate

“We are tiny flames, Helikaon, and we flicker alone in the great dark for no more than a heartbeat. When we strive for wealth, glory and fame, it is meaningless. The nations we fight for will one day cease to be. Even the mountains we gaze upon will crumble to dust. To truly live we must yearn for that which does not die.”
― David Gemmell, Shield of Thunder

“Love is a mystery. We embrace it where we can. Mostly we do not choose whom we love. It just happens. A voice speaks to us, in ways the ears cannot hear. We recognize a beauty the eye does not see. We experience a change in our hearts that no voice can describe.”
― David Gemmell, Shield of Thunder

“Life is not so simple. There are many futures. The life of a single person is like a great tree: every branch, every twig, every leaf is a possible future.”
― David Gemmell, Lion of Macedon

“Not one of the creatures of blood can escape death. We all face it, and succumb to it. It follows us like a dark shadow. Yet if we live in terror of it, then we do not live at all. Yes we are born alone, and yes we will die alone. But in between, Tae, we live. We know joy.”
― David Gemmell, Sword in the Storm

“We are fighting the greatest war the world has ever seen, and our likely future is death and ruins, and you are thinking about a women you love, instead of making battle plans. If this is what love can do to a man, perhaps you were better off without it.
He smiled to himself. I do not believe that, he thought.”
― David Gemmell, Fall of Kings

“It seems to me, that you people spend a great deal of time talking about honour, but strip away the high sounding words and you are no different from any other race. Family? Has Priam not killed wayward sons? When a king dies do his sons not go to war with one another to succeed him? Men speak of how you reacted to your father's death. They say it was amazing, for you did not order your little brother's execution. Your race thrives on blood and death, Helikaon. Your ships raid the coasts of other nations, stealing slaves, burning and plundering. Warriors brag of how many men they have killed, and women they have raped. Almost all of your kings either seized their thrones with swords and murder, or are children of men who seized power with swords and murder. So put all this talk of honour to one side.”
― David Gemmell, Shield of Thunder

“What do all men seek? I want to be happy. I would like a wife and sons one day. But I want them to grow in a land where there is hope for the future, where men do not take to the road. If that is a hopeless dream - and maybe it is - then I will sire no sons. I will wander, and play my harp, and weave my magick until the end.”
― David Gemmell, Morningstar

“Odysseus draped the towel over his shoulders and stretched his back. "You remember practicing with wooden swords? All the moves, the blocks, the counters, getting your footwork right, learning how to be in balance always?"
"Of course you were a hard master."
"And you recall the first time you went into a real fight, with blood being shed and the fear of death in the air?"
"I do"
"The moves are the same, but the difference is wider than the Great Green. Love is like that, Helikaon. 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. Ah, I am missing my Penelope tonight”
― David Gemmell, Lord of the Silver Bow

“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 women terrified of the pain of childbirth who says, 'It is time to become a mother'. Heroism does not always live on the battlefield.”
― David Gemmell, Dark Moon

“Our souls are but leaves in a storm, and only the gods know where we will come to rest.”
― David Gemmell, Lion of Macedon

“... Life can be savored only if you look to the future and leave vengeance to the gods”
― David Gemmell, Fall of Kings

“If we are still discussing its merits tomorrow, I will agree with you," said Diagoras.
"Cheer up, laddie. Nobody lives forever."
"Oh I expect you will, Druss, Old Horse. It's the mortals around you who always seem to kiss the granite.”
― David Gemmell, White Wolf (Drenai Saga, #10)

“May all your dreams come true, save one.”
― David Gemmell

“I caught a pebble in the moonlight.”
― David Gemmell, Waylander

“The truth. Men will blind themselves with hot irons, rather than face it.”
― David Gemmell, Dark Moon

“So you will not kneel to me?" He said.
I will kneel to no man, "She answered, preparing herself for the push that would send her toppling to her death and ready to haul him with her.
You interest me, girl. There is no fear in you."
Nor in you, apparently, King Priam."
He looked surprised. "Fear if for weaklings. Look around you. This is Troy. My Troy. The richest and most powerful city in the world. It was not built by fearful men, but my men with imagination and courage. It's wealth grows Daily, and with it the influence that wealth brings.”
― David Gemmell

“The night has a capacity for terror that the day can never match.”
― David Gemmell, Morningstar

“-Si elle partage vos sentiments? Quelle différence cela fait-il? Achetez-la, quoi qu'il en soit!

Hélicon secoua la tête.

-On peut acheter de l'or brilliant comme le soleil, et des diamants à l'éclat lunaire. Mais on ne peut pas acheter le soleil, ni posséder la lune.”
― David Gemmell

“Today I could like anybody," said Rek, smiling. "The sky is clear, the wind is fresh, and life tastes very fine. What will you do now?"
"I think I will become a monk and devote my entire life to prayer and good works."
"No," said Rek. "I mean, what will you do today?"
"Ah! Today I'll get drunk and go whoring," said Bowman.”
― David Gemmell, Legend

“Love is both wondrous and yet full of peril. Love is a gateway through which hatred - disguised and unrecognized - can pass.”
― David Gemmell, Dark Moon