Jack Vance Quotes
-
The colour, noise and festivity failed to elevate Carfilhiot’s mood; in fact-so he told himself-never had he witnessed so much pointless nonsense.
-
'You drink only sparingly. Is the beer too thin?''No at all. I merely wish to keep my wits about me. It would not do if both of us became addled, and later woke up in doubt as to who was who.'
-
I challenge Destiny, yes, but I do not leap off cliffs.
-
He must approach the subject critically, alert for contradictions, pedantry and vagueness.
-
He’s like an imbecile with a pepper shaker; a little makes his food taste good, therefore a lot will make it wonderful.
-
A single question remained, the age-old cry of anguish: 'How could one so beautiful be so base?'
-
I'm only giving orders because I'm more efficient and smarter than you are.
-
Nothing is more conspicuous than a farting princess.
-
'Is this the conduct of a ‘sly and unpredictable villain’?''Decidedly so, if the villain, for the purposes of his joke, thinks to simulate the altruist.''Then how will you know villain from altruist?'Cugel shrugged. 'It is not an important distinction.'
-
'I was trained in the old tradition! We found our strength in the basic verities, to which you, as a patrician, must surely subscribe. Am I right in this?''Absolutely, and in all respects!' declared Cugel. 'Recognizing, of course, that these fundamental verities vary from region to region, and even from person to person.'
-
Ildefonse said ponderously: 'If your analysis is correct, we must undertake to secure the future against this pangynic nightmare.'
-
King Aillas talks softly and with great politeness; he has the uncomfortable skill of calling one a false-hearted blackguard, a liar, a cheat and a villain, but making it seem a fulsome compliment.
-
I still feel that we should act with restraint. It’s much easier not to do than to undo.
-
Your thoughts move with the deft precision of worm-tracks in the mud.
-
I do not care to listen; obloquy injures my self-esteem and I am skeptical of praise.
-
'When one deals with the Murthe, the unthinkable becomes the ordinary, and Zanzel's repute carries no more weight than last year's mouse-dropping - if that much.'
-
The town’s lack of special quirks was almost a peculiarity in itself.
-
'Enter, my friend, enter. How goes your trade?''In all candor, not too well,' said Cugel. 'I am both perplexed and disappointed, for my talismans are not obviously useless.'
-
Guyal reined his horse and reflected that flowers were rarely cherished by persons of hostile disposition.
-
You are a particularly clever girl: almost as clever as you are appealing to the eye.
-
Happiness is fugitive; dissatisfaction and boredom are real.
-
Notice this rent in my garment; I am at a loss to explain its presence! I am even more puzzled by the existence of the universe.
-
I have seen all I care to see and heard rather more.
-
'My clever baton holds your unnatural sorcery in abeyance.'