Genghis Quotes

“Courage cannot be left like bones in a bag. It must be brought out and shown the light again and again, growing stronger each time. If you think it will keep for the times you need it, you are wrong. It is like any other part of your strength. If you ignore it, the bag will be empty when you need it most.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“Your brother beat him almost to death, Temujin. He held him and kicked him until he cried like a child. He is afraid of you, so he hates you. It would be wrong to hurt him again. It would be like beating a dog after it has loosed it's bladder. The spirit is already broken in him.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“I am the land, the bones of the hills," he said fiercely, "I am the winter. When I am dead, I will come for you all in the coldest nights.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“No man could be a khan to his mother.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“There was no justice in the world, but he had known that ever since the death of his father. The spirits took no part in the lives of men once they had been born. A man either endured what the world sent his way, or was crushed.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“He was the khan of Wolves and he feared no man. They would pay dearly for his skin.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“He had a vision of a nation. The incredible martial skills of the Mongol tribes had always been wasted against each other. From nothing, surrounded by enemies, Temujin rose to unite them all. What came next would shake the world.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“Temujin snorted. "Never lose faith in me, little brother. My word is iron and I will always come home.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“Be careful in your life, Tolui. I want you fit and strong for when I come for you.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“We are the silver people, the Mongols. When they ask, tell them there are no tribes. Tell them I am khan of the sea of grass, and they will know me by that name, as Genghis. Yes, tell them that. Tell them that I am Genghis and I will ride.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“A multitude of rulers is not a good thing. Let there be one ruler, one king.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“We feed the soil with our blood, our endless feuding,” he said after a time. “We always have, but that does not mean we always should. I have shown that a tribe can come from the Quirai, the Wolves, the Woyela, the Naimans. We are one people, Arslan. When we are strong enough, I will make them come to me, or I will break them one at a time. I tell you we are one people. We are Mongols, Arslan. We are the silver people and one khan can lead us all.”
“You are drunk, or dreaming,” Arslan replied, ignoring his son’s discomfort. “What makes you think they would ever accept you?”
“I am the land,” Temujin replied. “And the land sees no difference in the families of our people.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“My son's name is Temujin," he said. "He will be iron.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“The eagles ruled the air as the tribes ruled the land.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“I will kill them,” Temujin promised, rage kindling in him. “I will burn them and eat their flesh if they do.” “That will bring you peace, but it will not change anything for Borte,” Hoelun said. “What else can I do? She cannot kill them as I could, or force them to kill her, even. Nothing that happens is her fault.” He found himself crying and wiped angrily at bloody tears on his cheeks. “She trusted me.” “You cannot make this right, my son. Not if they escape your brothers. If you find her alive, you will have to be patient and kind.” “I know that! I love her; that is enough.” “It was,” Hoelun persisted. “It may not be enough any longer.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“My word is Iron”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“To be betrayed by those he trusted seems to have ignited a spark of vengeance in Temujin, a desire for power that never left him. His childhood experiences created the man he would become, who would not bend or allow fear or weakness in any form. He cared nothing for possessions or wealth, only that his enemies fall.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“The greatest joy a man can know is to conquer his enemies and drive them before him. To ride their horses and take away their possessions, to see the faces of those who were dear to them bedewed with tears, and to clasp their wives and daughters in his arms.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“He holds blood in his right hand," she whispered. "He will walk with death all his life.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“You can't hunt a man if he's searching for you”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“Mother's love is unusual and complicated, unresolved to reason”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“I'm the land and the bones of the hills. I'm winter. When I die, I'll pursue you in the coldest nights.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“Why do you have sons, if not to grow up and test their boldness? Boldness cannot be laid like bones in the sack. It must be driven and again shown on the light, each time stronger than the last. You're mistaken if you think you can keep it, until you need it. It's like everything else, that gives you strength. If you neglect it, your sack will be empty, when you need it the most.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“A strong man could bend the sky to suit him, but only for himself, Temujin knew.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“They cannot stand alone against us,” Temujin said. “We will take them one by one.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“Keep him alive," he whispered to the sky father. "Keep him strong and healthy. Keep him alive, for me to kill.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“There was no justice in the world—unless he made it for himself. Unless he cut twice as deep as he had been cut and gave back blow for blow. He had the right.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“You do not hunt a man who comes looking for you," Temujin reminded him softly.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“He raised his head and summoned his endurance to take him farther. His body was finished, but he remembered Yesugei telling him a man’s will could carry him long after the weak flesh had given up.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire

“They are the great tribe," Temujin replied, almost to himself. His voice was so quiet that Kachiun had to strain to hear. "I will give them a family again. I will bring them in and I will make them hard and I will send them against those who killed our father. I will write the name of Yesugei in Tartar blood and, when we are strong, I will come back from the north and scatter the Wolves in the snow.”
― Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire