The Warrior's Apprentice Quotes

“When the time comes to leap in faith whether you have your eyes open or closed or scream all the way down or not makes no practical difference.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“Oh, was that liquor of yours a stimulant?" asked Elena. "I wondered why he didn't fall asleep."
"Couldn't you tell?" chuckled Mayhew.
"Not really."
Miles twisted his head to take in Elena's upside-down worried face, and smile in weak reassurance. Sparkly black and purple whirlpools clouded his vision. Mayhew's laughter faded. "My God," he said hollowly, "you mean he's like that all the time?”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“I've got forward momentum. There's no virtue in it. It's just a balancing act. I don't dare stop. ”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“Miles exhaled carefully, faint with rage and reminded grief. He does not know, he told himself. He cannot know... "Ivan, one of these days somebody is going to pull out a weapon and plug you, and you're going to die in bewilderment, crying, "What did I say? What did I say?"

"What did I say?" asked Ivan indignantly.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“Damn it," he mumbled apologetically, "things like this never happened to Vorthalia the Bold."
She raised a thoughtful eyebrow. "How do you know? The histories of those times were all written by minstrels and poets. You try and think of a word that rhymes with 'bleeding ulcer”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“Hunting hawks did not belong in cages, no matter how much a man coveted their grace, no matter how golden the bars. They were far more beautiful soaring free. Heartbreakingly beautiful.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“A true Vor, Miles told himself severely, does not bury his face in his liegewoman's breasts and cry—even if he is at a convenient height for it.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“It's never too late while you're breathing.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“There will be grace and forgiveness enough, old dog, even for you. I pray you will spare me a drink from that cup, when it overflows for you.
- Miles Vorkosigan”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“That's the spirit! Forward momentum."
Mayhew snorted. "Your forward momentum is going to lead all your followers over a cliff someday." He paused, beginning to grin. "On the way down, you'll convince 'em all they can fly." He stuck his fists in his armpits, and waggled his elbows. "Lead on, my lord. I'm flapping as hard as I can.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“Not only was Ivan an idiot, but he generated a telepathic damping field that turned people nearby into idiots, too. He would point this out to Barrayaran Intelligence, who would make of his cousin the newest weapon in their arsenal—if”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“You know, if you're trying to take a roomful of people by surprise, it's a lot easier to hit your targets if you don't yell going through the door.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“Yes. A bloody serious one. Desertion in the heat of battle,” said Miles. “If he gets extradited home, the penalty’s quartering. Technically.” “That doesn’t sound so bad.” Hathaway shrugged. “He’s been quartered in my recycling center for two months. It could hardly be worse. What’s the problem?” “Quartering,” said Miles. “Uh—not domiciled. Cut in four pieces.” Hathaway stared, shocked. “But that would kill him!”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“My word was too easy to give, too hard to keep.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“Heroes. They sprang up around him like weeds. A carrier, he was seemingly unable to catch the disease he spread.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“Lord Miles Naismith Vorkosigan. Occupation: security risk. Hobbies: falling off walls, disappointing sick old men to death, making girls cry.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“When the time came to leap in faith, whether you had your eyes open or closed or screamed all the way down or not made no practical difference.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“I guess it just doesn't look very heroic to sneak up behind somebody and shoot them in the back. I can't help thinking it would be more efficient, though.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“Miles sat hunched in a battered armchair in a small private parlor overlooking the street side of the great old mansion, feet up, eyes closed. It was a seldom-used room; there was a good chance of being left alone to brood in peace. He had never come to a more complete halt, a drained blankness numb even to pain. So much passion expended for nothing—a lifetime of nothing stretching endlessly into the future—because of a split second’s stupid, angry self-consciousness . . ”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“The count somehow managed to smile at her and frown menacingly at miles at the same time. The sergeants frown was democratically universal.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“Héroes. Brotaban alrededor suyo como semillas. Un portador; aparentemente él era incapaz de contraer la enfermedad que él mismo diseminaba”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“You shall lie warm here, watching the long lake change its faces, winter to spring, summer to fall. No armies march here, and even the deepest midnights aren’t wholly dark. Surely God won’t overlook you, in such a spot as this. There will be grace and forgiveness enough, old dog, even for you.” He lit the offering. “I pray you will spare me a drink from that cup, when it overflows”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“I wanted—I wanted to serve something. To”—he raised his eyes to his father’s, driven to a painful honesty—“to make my life an offering fit to lay at his feet.” He shrugged. “Screwed up again.” “Clay, boy.” Count Vorkosigan’s voice was hoarse but clear. “Only clay. Not fit to receive so golden a sacrifice.” His voice cracked.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“he was getting mortally tired of having to reinvent the wheel every fifteen minutes.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“Miles growled, and sat with his back to it. He quickly slid into the role of referee, controlling the flow of ideas while concealing his own dearth of hard factual information. He folded his arms, and said “Um,” and “Hm,” but only very occasionally “God help us,” because it caused Elena to choke.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“Elena was observing him anxiously. “What’s the matter, Miles? You don’t look happy. We won!” A true Vor, Miles told himself severely, does not bury his face in his liegewoman’s breasts and cry—even if he is at a convenient height for it.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“He pinpointed the reservoir from the man’s pilot relief tube, already half-full. “Must be a nervous sort of fellow—” He set it to backwash at full power, and checked the audio transmitter. Savage swearing filled the air briefly, overridden by a snarl calling for radio silence. “Now, there is one distracted soldier.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“Bothari nearly choked at the suggestion. “I swear I’ll knock you down and sit on you if you go near those suits,” he snarled. “Insubordination, Sergeant,” Miles hissed back.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“It’s only for a week. If I can do it,” he said manfully, “you can do it.” “I’ve heard that before somewhere,” she muttered.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice

“I’ve never taught anybody before . . .” He smiled up at her, willing confidence into her face, her eyes, her spine. “Look, you can probably kill the first two days just having them demonstrate what they know on each other, while you stand around and say “Um,” and “Hm,” and “God help us,” and things like that.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior's Apprentice