The Court of the Air Quotes

“Even a broken clock is right twice a day.”
― Stephen Hunt, The Court of the Air

“All I have left is my anger at the foolishness of the world. The unnecessary cruelties, the pomposity and vanity of people who should know better. Most of the time I just want to shake some sense into the world.”
― Stephen Hunt, The Court of the Air

“The bonds of friendship dwindle with age, Oliver. But a little blackmail lasts forever.”
― Stephen Hunt, The Court of the Air

“Why?' Said Harry. 'For the big idea, Oliver. Someone comes up with the big idea - could be religion, could be politics, could be the race you belong to, or your clan, or philosophy, or economics, or your sex or just how many bleeding guineas you got stashed in the counting house. Doesn't matter, because the big idea is always the same - wouldn't it be good if only EVERYONE was the same as ME -if only everyone else thought and acted and worshipped and looked like me, everything would become a paradise on earth.
'But people are too different, too diverse to fit into one way of acting or thinking or looking. And that's where the trouble starts. That's when they show up at your door to make the ones who don't fit vanish, when, frustrated by the lack of progress and your stupidity and plain wrongness at not appreciating the perfection of the big idea, they start trying to to shave off the imperfections. Using knives and racks and axe-men and camps and Gideon's Collars. When you see a difference in a person and can find only wickedness in it - you and them - the THEM become fair game, not people anymore but obstacles to the greater good, and it's always open season on THEM.”
― Stephen Hunt, The Court of the Air

“You want to meet your gods, you filthy cockroaches? Tell the evil sods that Molly Templar says hello when you see them.”
― Stephen Hunt, The Court of the Air

“We have something they don't', said Oliver, raising voice loud enough that everyone in the irregulars could hear. 'We fight as free citizens of Jackals, not slaves of a king or a first committee or a caliph.' He pulled one of his belt pistols out and the lion of Jackals on the handle seemed to suck in the light of the afternoon, drawing down rays of sunlight that rotated, blinding the troops with a brilliance they had never known before. 'We will not suffer the heel of tyranny, we will not bend our knee to unworthy gods, we will not see an evil without striking it down, and we will not pass meekly into the long face of darkness that is endangering our land. Because we are Jackelians - and our soul of freedom can never, never be conquered. Not as long as one free Jackelian has the heart to say, "No! I think my own thoughts I choose my own leader. I select my own book of worship and my law shall be the law of the people, not the whimsy of any bully with a sabre sharp enough to slice a crown off the previous brute's head.”
― Stephen Hunt, The Court of the Air

“Do not be afraid for us, young fastblood. We do not fear the darkness before we are made activate, why should we fear what may come after? We are notes in a song. The notes are played out and the song of the great pattern goes on forever.”
― Stephen Hunt, The Court of the Air

“Strength has no meaning unless it is used in the service of the weak. One stick may be snapped but the bundle is the community, and the community will never break.”
― Stephen Hunt, The Court of the Air

“Darkness is your cloak. Fear is your ally. Wickedness is your manna.”
― Stephen Hunt, The Court of the Air

“Why?' Said Harry. 'For the big idea, Oliver. Someone comes up with the big idea - could be religion, could be politics, could be the race you belong to, or your clan, or philosophy, or economics, or your sex or just how many bleeding guineas you got stashed in the counting house. Doesn't matter, because the big idea is always the same - wouldn't it be good if only everyone was the same as me - if only everyone else thought and acted and worshipped and looked like me, everything would become a paradise on earth.
'But people are too different, too diverse to fit into one way of acting or thinking or looking. And that's where the trouble starts. That's when they show up at your door to make the ones who don't fit vanish, when, frustrated by the lack of progress and your stupidity and plain wrongness at not appreciating the perfection of the big idea, they start trying to to shave off the imperfections. Using knives and racks and axe-men and camps and Gideon's Collars. When you see a difference in a person and can find only wickedness in it - you and them - the them become fair game, not people anymore but obstacles to the greater good, and it's always open season on them.”
― Stephen Hunt, The Court of the Air