“Just when you think this war has taken everything you loved, you meet someone and realize that somehow you still have more to give.”
“Take up a weapon and you become an instrument with as pure a purpose as the weapon itself: to find arteries and open them, limbs and sever them; to take what is alive and deliver it unto death.”
“Whenever and wherever men have engaged in the mindless slaughter of animals (including other men), they have often attempted to justify their acts by attributing the most vicious or revolting qualities to those they would destroy; and the less reason there is for the slaughter, the greater the campaign for vilification.”
“For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast, And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed; And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill, And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!”
“So that in the nature of man, we find three principal causes of quarrel: First, Competition; Secondly, Dissidence; Thirdly, Glory. The first, maketh men invade for Gain; the second, for Safety; and the third, for Reputation. The first use Violence, to make themselves Masters of other men s persons, wives, children and cattle; the second, to defend them; the third, for trifles, as a word, a smile, a different opinion, and any other sign of undervalue, either direct in their Persons, or by reflexion in their Kindred, their Friends, their Nation, their Profession, or their Name.”
“This is not a war, this is a test of how far man can be degraded”
“This is good, life must continue, we are fighting barbarians, but we must remain human.”
“You said that you thought Queen Orlagh was waiting for an advantage to declare war. Instead, I think she is trying a new ruler—one she hopes she can trick or replace with another indebted to her. She thinks me young and feckless and means to take my measure.” “So what?” I ask. “Our choice is to endure her games, no matter how deadly, or engage in a war we cannot win?” Cardan shakes his head and drinks another cup of tea. “We show her that I am no feckless High King.” “And how do we do that?” I ask. “With great difficulty,” he says. “Since I fear she is right.”
“From a safe distance, the man sat watching, thinking what a bunch of fools! Is this how Americans live? Walking around blindly, bumbling into each other and falling down all the time? But he hadn’t noticed what the Professor had noticed or he wouldn’t have been thinking in such arrogant terms. Before the Professor righted himself, he had caught sight of a partially concealed, but plainly present M1942 Sosso Pistol, an Italian made handgun.”
“But there was definitely something going on. Helen had agreed. With Harry and Sly taking off before they even ate dinner that night before, there had to be. I’m glad I have Joanie and the others. I need the support, and the calming influence. They are just the ones to give me peace. Just as she was about to drift off with that comforting thought, the front door flew open and Joan burst in breathless. “Annie!” she said, turning to her. “I think that Nazi guy is right here in town!”
“People at war with themselves will always cause collateral damage in the lives of those around them.”
“Then something in me heard the stars, the pawpaws, trilliums, the whippoorwills, crawdads swimming in the creeks and cousin Alma all calling. Like the air had shimmered them.”
“But history, real solemn history, I cannot be interested in. Can you? Yes, I am fond of history. I wish I were too. I read it a little as a duty, but it tells me nothing that does not either vex or weary me. The quarrels of popes and kings, with wars or pestilences, in every page; the men all so good for nothing, and hardly any women at all -- it is very tiresome.”
“Patriotism is nationalism, and always leads to war.”
“May God have mercy for my enemies because I won t.”
“Let my country die for me.”
“Fortune favours the brave, sir, said Carrot cheerfully. Good. Good. Pleased to hear it, captain. What is her position vis a vis heavily armed, well prepared and excessively manned armies? Oh, no–one s ever heard of Fortune favouring them, sir. According to General Tacticus, it s because they favour themselves, said Vimes. He opened the battered book. Bits of paper and string indicated his many bookmarks. In fact, men, the general has this to say about ensuring against defeat when outnumbered, out–weaponed and outpositioned. It is... he turned the page, Don t Have a Battle. Sounds like a clever man, said Jenkins. He pointed to the yellow horizon. See all that stuff in the air? he said. What do you think that is? Mist? said Vimes. Hah, yes. Klatchian mist! It s a sandstorm! The sand blows about all the time. Vicious stuff. If you want to sharpen your sword, just hold it up in the air. Oh. And it s just as well because otherwise you d see Mount Gebra. And below it is what they call the Fist of Gebra. It s a town but there s a bloody great fort, walls thirty feet thick. s like a big city all by itself. s got room inside for thousands of armed men, war elephants, battle camels, everything. And if you saw that, you d want me to turn round right now. Whats your famous general got to say about it, eh? I think I saw something... said Vimes. He flicked to another page. Ah, yes, he says, After the first battle of Sto Lat, I formulated a policy which has stood me in good stead in other battles. It is this: if the enemy has an impregnable stronghold, see he stays there. That s a lot of help, said Jenkins. Vimes slipped the book into a pocket. So, Constable Visit, there s a god on our side, is there? Certainly, sir. But probably also a god on their side as well? Very likely, sir. There s a god on every side. Let s hope they balance out, then.”