By Darkness Forged Quotes

“Intellectual understanding doesn’t obviate emotional pain,” I said.”
― Nathan Lowell, By Darkness Forged

“Reputations are tough. Once you blow it, it’s really hard to get it back. You don’t even have to really be what the reputation says you are. Once enough people believe it, you’re stuck digging your way out of a hole you may not have made to begin with.”
― Nathan Lowell, By Darkness Forged

“Ms. Fortuner said, “Is the coffee any good here?” He grinned at her.”
― Nathan Lowell, By Darkness Forged

“Friends are the people who pick you because they want to. They accept you for who you are, not what your relationship with them might be.”
― Nathan Lowell, By Darkness Forged

“Don’t matter. I’m doing what I like doing. I make enough from people who pay.”
― Nathan Lowell, By Darkness Forged

“It’s your culture to mold. What will it be? What will you fight? What will you support? What will you stand against? What will you stand for?”
― Nathan Lowell, By Darkness Forged

“How do I not answer the question?” I asked, my eyes still closed. “Oh, you’ll answer it,” he said. “Just try not to. Let the feelings wash over you. Different days will give you different feelings. Just feel them. Think of different parts of that experience. Sometimes focus on a face. Sometimes a sound or a smell. Just notice the feelings but don’t try to name them, categorize them. Just feel them.”
― Nathan Lowell, By Darkness Forged

“Don’t answer the question,” he said. “Just ask it.”
― Nathan Lowell, By Darkness Forged

“I had a feeling that the other shoe, when it dropped, would hit me in the face. I was pretty sure it would be a woman’s shoe.”
― Nathan Lowell, By Darkness Forged

“Are these the good guys or the bad guys?” Pip asked. I shrugged. “I’m calling them the good guys. They didn’t try to kill us, commandeer the ship, or enslave any of the crew.” “That’s a pretty low bar,”
― Nathan Lowell, By Darkness Forged

“That’s odd,” the chief said. “What? That he’s ranting?” Oscella asked. “No, that’s normal. He’s always got a rant up his sleeve.”
― Nathan Lowell, By Darkness Forged

“She didn’t answer the question,” Dumaurier said, as if to himself. “She doesn’t as a rule.” I shrugged. “Well, no. Sometimes she does and I’ve learned not to ask too many questions for fear she’ll actually answer them.”
― Nathan Lowell, By Darkness Forged

“You a physicist or something?” “Chief engineering officer on a solar clipper,” the chief said. “That would classify as ‘or something,’ I guess.”
― Nathan Lowell, By Darkness Forged

“Seems like whenever I begin to feel that I have a handle on things, I find out that not only do I not have a handle—I don’t actually have a clue.”
― Nathan Lowell, By Darkness Forged

“Intellectual understanding doesn’t obviate emotional pain,”
― Nathan Lowell, By Darkness Forged

“I see,” I said. “So I’m not sure. There’s damn all I can do about him. Probably the best thing is forgive and forget.” “You could forgive him?” she asked. I shrugged. “Here’s the thing. Exacting retribution means I have to become like him. I have to be acting on impulses that are antithetical to my basic philosophy. If I can’t be the white knight or the good cop or whatever metaphor applies to dragging his sorry butt back to the authorities to answer for his actions, and I can’t wreak personal vengeance on his hide without becoming like him, the only alternatives are to let him continue to connect to me through my animosity, or forgive him and move on with my life.” I shook my head. “I’m done having his pollution cloud my vision. I guess I have to forgive him so I can cut him out of my life again.”
― Nathan Lowell, By Darkness Forged

“Choose the path before one is chosen for you.”
― Nathan Lowell, By Darkness Forged

“She gave me another side-eyed glance but didn’t speak. “The first is ‘How did it make you feel?’ in reference to my time on the Lois McKendrick as a crewman.” “Classic Zen,” she said. “Interesting approach.” “What?” “The question. It’s a classic question from an ancient Buddhist school of meditation. He didn’t ask you to answer it, did he.” It wasn’t a question. “No, I’m not supposed to answer it. Just feel it.” She grinned. I could see her teeth gleaming in her reflection. “It’s phrased to break your focus, to give your mind a split second of a break from overthinking. To put you in touch with yourself in ways that most of us find difficult. Tai chi does the same thing using the movements as focus.”
― Nathan Lowell, By Darkness Forged