Moonfleet Quotes

“As in life, so in a game of hazard, skill will make something of the worst of throws.”
― J. Meade Falkner, Moonfleet (Horror Classic): Enriched edition.

“We thought there was no more behind But such a day tomorrow as today And to be a boy eternal.”
― John Meade Falkner, Moonfleet

“Have a care how you touch the treasure; it was evilly come by, and will bring a curse with it.”
― John Meade Falkner, Moonfleet

“Thou [John] art my diamond, and I would rather lose all other diamonds in the world than aught should come to thee. So, if thou doubtest, let me go, or let not any go at all.”
― John Meade Falkner, Moonfleet

“Latin for those who know that tongue, Ita in vita ut in lusu alae pessima jactura arte corrigenda est, and in English as Mr. Glennie translated it, As in life, so in a game of hazard, skill will make something of the worst of throws.”
― John Meade Falkner, Moonfleet

“So sleeps the pride of former days —More”
― John Meade Falkner, Moonfleet

“We thought there was no more behind But such a day tomorrow as today And to be a boy eternal. Shakespeare”
― John Meade Falkner, Moonfleet

“He made a good end, John,' he said, rising from his knees, 'and I pray that our end may be in as good cause when it comes. For with the best of us the hour of death is an awful hour, and we may well pray, as every Sunday, to be delivered in it. But there is another time which those who wrote this Litany thought no less perilous, and bade us pray to be delivered in all time of our wealth. So I pray that if, after all, this wealth comes to your hand you may be led to use it well; for though I do not hold with foolish tales, or think a curse hangs on riches themselves, yet if riches have been set apart for a good purpose, even by evil men, as Colonel John Mohune set apart this treasure, it cannot be but that we shall do grievous wrong in putting them to other use. So fare you well, and remember that there are other treasures besides this, and that a good woman's love is worth far more than all the gold and jewels of the world—as I once knew.' And with that he left me.”
― John Meade Falkner, Moonfleet

“And again she said: 'John, have you no word for me? have you forgotten? do you not love me still? Have I no part in your sorrow?' Then I took her hand in mine and raised it to my lips, and said, 'Dear Mistress Grace, I have forgotten nothing, and honour you above all others: but of love I may not speak more to you—nor you to me, for we are no more boy and girl as in times past, but you a noble lady and I a broken wretch'; and with that I told how I had been ten years a prisoner, and why, and showed her the iron ring upon my wrist, and the brand upon my cheek. At the brand she stared, and said, 'Speak not of wealth; 'tis not wealth makes men, and if you have come back no richer than you went, you are come back no poorer, nor poorer, John, in honour. And I am rich and have more wealth than I can rightly use, so speak not of these things; but be glad that you are poor, and were not let to profit by that evil treasure. But for this brand, it is no prison name to me, but the Mohunes' badge, to show that you are theirs and must do their bidding. Said I not to you, Have a care how you touch the treasure, it was evilly come by and will bring a curse with it? But now, I pray you, with a greater earnestness, seeing you bear this mark upon you, touch no penny of that treasure if it should some day come back to you, but put it to such uses as Colonel Mohune thought would help his sinful soul.”
― John Meade Falkner, Moonfleet

“Lad, I have known men risk their lives for many things: for gold, and love, and hate; but never one would play with death that he might see a tree or stream or stones. And when men say they love a place or town, thou mayst be sure 'tis not the place they love but some that live there; or that they loved some in the past, and so would see the spot again to kindle memory withal. Thus when thou speakest of Moonfleet, I may guess that thou hast someone there to see—or hope to see. It cannot be thine aunt, for there is no love lost between ye; and besides, no man ever perilled his life to bid adieu to an aunt. So have no secrets from me, John, but tell me straight, and I will judge whether this second treasure that thou seekest is true gold enough to fling thy life into the scale against it.”
― John Meade Falkner, Moonfleet

“Maskew got ugly looks from the men, and sour words from the wives, as he went up through the village that afternoon,”
― John Meade Falkner, Moonfleet

“¡Ah, dulce infancia! ¡Cómo ansiamos librarnos de ti cuando somos niños y con cuánto pesar te contemplamos una vez te hemos dejado atrás y hemos llegado apenas a la mitad de esta carrera que es la vida humana!”
― John Meade Falkner, El diamante de Moonfleet

“إنني مستعد أن أفقد كل مجوهرات العالم، ولا أفقدك أنت.”
― John Meade Falkner, Moonfleet

“Life is like a game of hazard, and surely none ever flung worse throws, or made so little of them as I.”
― John Meade Falkner, Moonfleet

“And more than once I have stood rope in hand in that same awful place, and tried to save a struggling wretch; but never saw one come through the surf alive, in such a night as he saved me.”
― John Meade Falkner, Moonfleet