The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard Quotes

“Damned be the dark ends of the earth where old horrors live again.”
― Robert E. Howard, The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard

“It is the individual mainly which draws me—the struggling, blundering, passionate insect vainly striving against the river of Life and seeking to divert the channel of events to suit himself—breaking his fangs on the iron collar of Fate and sinking into final defeat with the froth of a curse on his lips,”
― Robert E. Howard, The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard

“Sink white fangs in the throat of Life,
Lap up the red that gushes
In the cold dark gloom of the bare black stones,
In the gorge where the black wind rushes.
Slink where the titan boulders poise
And the chasms grind thereunder,
Over the mountains black and bare
In the teeth of the brooding thunder.
Why should we wish for the fertile fields,
Valley and crystal fountain?
This is our doom--the hunger-trail,
The wolf and the storm-stalked mountain.
Over us stalk the bellowing gods
Where the dusk and the twilight sever;
Under their iron goatish hoofs
They crunch our skulls forever.
Mercy and hope and pity--all,
Bubbles the black crags sunder;
Hunger is all the gods have left
And the death that lurks thereunder.
Glut mad fangs in the blood of Life
To slake the thirst past sating,
Before the blind worms mouth our bones
And the vulture's beak is grating.”
― Robert E. Howard, The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard

“The curse of the Foul Fiend upon you, John Kulrek!” she screamed. “The curse of God rest upon your vile soul throughout eternity! May you gaze on sights that shall sear the eyes of you and scorch the soul of you! May you die a bloody death and writhe in hell’s flames for a million and a million and yet a million years! I curse you by sea and by land, by earth and by air, by the demons of the oceans and the demons of the swamplands, the fiends of the forest and the goblins of the hills! And you”–her lean finger stabbed at Lie-lip Canool and he started backward, his face paling–“you shall be the death of John Kulrek and he shall be the death of you! You shall bring John Kulrek to the doors of hell and John Kulrek shall bring you to the gallows-tree! I set the seal of death upon your brow, John Kulrek! You shall live in terror and die in horror far out upon the cold gray sea! But the sea that took the soul of innocence to her bosom shall not take you, but shall fling forth your vile carcass to the sands! Aye, John Kulrek”
― Robert E. Howard, The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard

“It’s a mad nightmare,’ I muttered.”
― Robert E. Howard, The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard

“The moon glimmered evilly through the trees, etching out black shadows and throwing an illusive witch-light over the country.”
― Robert E. Howard, The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard

“A fantastic idea had birth in his mind and grew, that beneath the sheet, the mere lifeless body had become a strange, monstrous thing, a hideous, conscious being, that watched him with eyes which burned through the fabric of the cloth.”
― Robert E. Howard, The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard

“Virgin-white she was, and her arms were folded across her still bosom; calm was her face, and the gray tides sighed about her slender limbs.”
― Robert E. Howard, The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard

“Then far across the dim mountains that fringed the eastern skyline, a faint haze began to glow, and presently a great golden moon came up, making a ghostly radiance over the land and etching boldly the dark clumps of shadows that were trees.”
― Robert E. Howard, The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard

“While I never really awoke until morning, sounds and noises seemed to drift to me through my veil of slumber,”
― Robert E. Howard, The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard

“Mankind isn't the first owner of the earth; there were Beings here before his coming -- and now, survivals of hideously ancient epochs. Maybe spheres of alien dimensions press unseen on this material universe today.”
― Robert E. Howard, The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard

“Now, if this be true, there is no limit to the horror to which mankind may be heir. If this be true, men may be hovering forever on the brink of unthought oceans of supernatural terror, parted from the next world by a thin veil which may be rent, as we have just seen it rent. I would like to believe otherwise -- but...”
― Robert E. Howard, The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard