Penric’s Demon Quotes

“It indicates a deep confusion of thinking to mistake one's own discomfort for a benefit to another.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Demon

“How hard could husbanding be? Don’t drink, don’t gamble, don’t bring hunting dogs to the table. Don’t be terrified of tooth-drawers. Don’t be stupid about money. Don’t go for a soldier. No hitting girls. He wasn’t drawn to violate any of these prohibitions. Assuming older sisters weren’t classified as girls. Maybe make that, No hitting girls first.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Demon

“You looked a god in the eyes and bore witness for me, by which alone I am preserved.” She took a deep breath, through his mouth. “You looked a god in the eyes. And spoke for me. There is nothing in my power that I will ever refuse you, after that.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Demon

“I’d have been a fool not to have thought of it, and a greater fool not to have thought better of it.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Demon

“Pen wanted to ask if becoming a sorcerer made a man more, or less, attractive as a husband, but he had an uneasy feeling that he could guess.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Demon

“Are you saying a sorcerer could burst into flames?” “Mm, no, the body is too wet for that. He would more just . . . burst. Like a grilled sausage splitting its casing.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Demon

“Once, carefully, they rode around a company of marching pike men, recruits on their way to being exported to other lords’ wars. Like Drovo, Pen thought. He wondered how many would ever march home. Better it seemed to export cheese or cloth, but it was true that fortunes were made in the military trade. Though seldom by the soldiers, any more than by the cheeses.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Demon

“But a name is a thing of the air, of the mind and the spirit, so a fellow could give it to a spirit, right?”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Demon

“Her hands started to reach out, but then retreated behind her back and consoled each other there. “I am so sorry. But surely you see any girl must be quite afraid to marry a man who could set her on fire with a word!” He’d dreamed of setting her alight with kisses. “Any man could set a girl on fire with a torch, but he’d have to be deranged!”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Demon

“Pen told the tale, again; the repetition was beginning to seem more like the memory of a memory than the thing itself.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Demon

“Pen woke aroused, rolled over sleepily, and reached for himself. The room seemed warm and dim and safe and quiet. His hand had barely touched its target when his mouth commented, “Ooh, I’ve not felt it from this angle before. This should be interesting.” Pen’s hand froze. “Don’t stop on our account,” said Desdemona. “Physicians, remember?” “Yes, don’t be shy. I’ve seen a thousand of ’em.” “Speak for yourself!” “Well, I’ve certainly diapered them a thousand times.” Pen had no idea what the next comment was, and it might just have been the language, but it certainly sounded obscene. He rolled from the bed and dressed as fast as possible. He couldn’t be out on the road soon enough.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Demon

“He wondered how many would ever march home. Better it seemed to export cheese or cloth, but it was true that fortunes were made in the military trade. Though seldom by the soldiers, any more than by the cheeses.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Demon

“Better it seemed to export cheese or cloth, but it was true that fortunes were made in the military trade. Though seldom by the soldiers, any more than by the cheeses.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Demon

“Don’t be stupid about money. Don’t go for a soldier. No hitting girls. He wasn’t drawn to violate any of these prohibitions. Assuming older sisters weren’t classified as girls. Maybe make that, No hitting girls first.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Demon

“it indicates a deep confusion of thinking to mistake one’s own discomfort for a benefit to another.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Demon

“Wear it around your neck,” his mother told him anxiously. “I hear those cutpurses in the cities can have away with a purse off a man’s belt and he never feels a tug.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Demon

“Sorcerer’ had certainly not been on Pen’s former list of scholarly ambitions, but then, neither had ‘theologian’, ‘divine’, ‘physician’, ‘teacher’, ‘lawyer’, or any other high trade taught there—yet another reason for Rolsch’s dubiousness about it all. The Bastard’s Order must have a separate seminary of some sort . . . ?”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Demon

“Better it seemed to export cheese or cloth, but it was true that fortunes were made in the military trade. Though seldom by the soldiers, any more than by the cheeses. While”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Demon