Gavin > Gavin's Quotes

“In theory it was, around now, Literature. Susan hated Literature. She'd much prefer to read a good book.”
― Terry Pratchett, Soul Music

“Everywhere I go I'm asked if I think the university stifles writers. My opinion is that they don't stifle enough of them. There's many a best-seller that could have been prevented by a good teacher.”
― Flannery O'Connor

“I was a Flower of the mountain yes when I put the rose in my hair like the Andalusian girls used or shall I wear a red yes and how he kissed me under the Moorish wall and I thought well as well him as another and then I asked him with my eyes to ask again yes and then he asked me would I yes to say yes my mountain flower and first I put my arms around him yes and drew him down to me so he could feel my breasts all perfume yes and his heart was going like mad and yes I said yes I will Yes.”
― James Joyce, Ulysses

“Yes, but—I don’t believe in the Devil. Or God—any of it.” “What difference does that make to me?”
― John Langan, Sefira and Other Betrayals

“Usually, it takes someone else to say to me, “Well, you realize that you were writing about X,” whereupon I stroke my beard thoughtfully and say, “Yes, that’s right.”
― John Langan, Sefira and Other Betrayals

“Hey, hi, um, we know you can’t do that. Call the police, I mean. No cell service out here, right? My phone hasn’t worked since somewhere way out on the Daniel Webster Highway. I’m sorry but I had to cut your landline. I’m, um, I’m Sabrina, by the way.” The awkwardness of her introduction is as chilling as the cutting of the landline admission.”
― Paul Tremblay, The Cabin at the End of the World

“Andrew points the gun in the general shared direction of Leonard and Adriane. He wants to yell and scream and threaten and hurt; he yearns for both of them to hurt for this. He says, “Drop the knives,” to Adriane.”
― Paul Tremblay, The Cabin at the End of the World

“Nothing erases the past. There is repentance, there is atonement, and there is forgiveness. That is all, but that is enough.”
― Ted Chiang, The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate

“But that’s what growing up is, maybe. Realising what a fucking arse you’ve been.”
― Joe Abercrombie, A Little Hatred

“You’ve an excellent eye. They’re shit. But that’s how you know what a truly great teacher I am. Any fool can get results from the gifted.”
― Joe Abercrombie, A Little Hatred

“Some men are like water. No matter how high they are lifted, they always yearn to return to the appropriate level.”
― Joe Abercrombie, A Little Hatred

“It’s a newsbill. They tell you what’s happening.’ Orso thought about that. ‘Or they tell you what to think about what’s happening.’ He thought more. ‘Or the really successful ones just confirm what you already think about what’s happening.”
― Joe Abercrombie, A Little Hatred

“In times of peace,
the warlike man attacks himself.’ Friedrich Nietzsche”
― Joe Abercrombie, The Trouble With Peace

“Leo prodded at his fish. ‘Just feels like there are too many brown faces around in Adua these days.’ ‘Too many for what? The people who come here are hard workers. They bring wealth and energy and new ideas. There are great thinkers among them. Great engineers. And how would you stop them, anyway? Make us less prosperous?’ Leo did not look convinced. He was not a man much moved by reason. ‘We fought a war against the Gurkish,’ he grumbled. ‘You fought a war against the Northmen. Some of your best friends are still Northmen.’ He actually looked slightly offended. ‘Not all Northmen are the same, you know.”
― Joe Abercrombie, The Trouble With Peace

“I heard you had all the brains around here but Leo, why didn’t you tell me how very handsome he is?’ ‘Well …’ Leo cleared his throat. ‘I suppose that’s not the sort of thing a man notices …”
― Joe Abercrombie, The Trouble With Peace

“She was tempted by something stronger than her. Adam was tempted by a weaker creature. Or so we are told. If Eve was his inferior, his sin was greater. You can’t have it both ways.”
― Christopher Buehlman, Between Two Fires

“they’ll take good and bad alike to Hell, because there won’t be anyplace but Hell anymore. Not without love. Not without forgiveness.”
― Christopher Buehlman, Between Two Fires

“Summer had barely begun and already the city of Janloon was like a spent lover—sticky and fragrant.”
― Fonda Lee, Jade City

“Trust me, Eisenhorn, if I ever thought you were, I’d shoot you myself.’ I glanced back at him. ‘Please do.”
― Dan Abnett, Eisenhorn

“moving as seamlessly from sex to violence as an ’80s action movie.”
― Daniel Polansky, A City Dreaming

“Do you suppose you could go an entire paragraph without resorting to profanity?” “Maybe,” M supposed, “but why chance it?”
― Daniel Polansky, A City Dreaming

“The thing about an addict, as anyone who has ever dealt with one knows, is that it becomes impossible to determine where exactly their instinct toward self-destruction becomes intertwined with a desperate need for attention, if they’re running into walls because they want you to help them up or because they’ve come to love the taste of blood.”
― Daniel Polansky, A City Dreaming

“knew you wouldn’t come if I called you, not after last time. What can I say? I’m fucked up.” The addict’s lament—the addict and everyone who knows him.”
― Daniel Polansky, A City Dreaming