296 quotes
“Why not cancel the affair? There’ll be opportunities in the future.”
“But I’m not confident of the future! It’s a spinning top which can totter in any direction!”
Alastor trilogy (1973)
The vixen knew no other world than that in her own brain, had no conception that wills could exist in opposition to hers. Amusing now—but what a devil when she grew older!
Nopalgarth (1980)
Rute showed Maihac a sour smile. “You seem to lack confidence in my integrity.”
“You are wealthy,” said Maihac. “Your money did of the come to you because of your bonhomie.”
Night Lamp (1996)
She flushed, her eyes sparkled. “So—you laugh at me!”
After an instant of contemplation Joe asked, “Don’t you ever laugh at yourself?”
“No. Of course not.”
“Try it sometime.”
Nopalgarth (1980)
“Still, I am restless; in all my life I have achieved nothing.”
“Work and fatigue are well-known cures for restlessness! And what is achievement after all? Another name for vanity!”
Maske: Thaery (1976)
"I distrusted him from the start! Still, who could imagine such protean depravity?"
Bunderwal, the supercargo, concurred. "Cugel, while plausible, nonetheless is a bit of a scoundrel."
Dying Earth (1950)
“Sir Tristano spoke: “Stop! You are taking the great green pearl!”
“Naturally!” said the voice from a point close behind. “That is the whole point of robbery: to acquire the victim’s valuables!”
Lyonesse Trilogy (1983)
Surveillance portended unpleasant events: this on Tschai was an axiom of existence.
Planet of Adventure (1968)
Since we are not permitted to act, we are obliged to know.
The Dragon Masters (1962)
“As always there is someone to hold a tight hand on the purse strings—usually the most affluent of the persons in authority.”
“This is how they become affluent.”
Demon Princes (1964)
What, given the circumstances, would have been Emphyrio’s course of action?
Truth.
Very well, thought Ghyl: it shall be Truth, and let the consequences fall where they may.
Emphyrio (1969)
“It’s not a knack at all,” said Jantiff. “I’ve had to practice for years.”
Tanzel said brightly: “Isn’t it elitism when someone tries to do something better can everyone else?”
Alastor trilogy (1973)
“Ridiculous situation,” he told himself in half-humorous self-contempt. “Six months ago I could think of nothing but travel to strange planets; now all I want is to go home to Earth.”
Nopalgarth (1980)
It was a mess. How could a man think clearly when he could not distinguish between an idiotic subconscious urge and common sense?
Nopalgarth (1980)
“You must save yourselves,” Rogol Domedonfors told them. “You have ignored the ancient wisdom, you have been too indolent to learn, you have sought easy complacence from religion, rather than facing manfully to the world.”
Dying Earth (1950)
The travesty exists only because reliance upon abstraction has made reality incomprehensible to you.
The Gray Prince (1975)
So much existed: so much to be felt and seen and known! A single life was not enough…
Alastor trilogy (1973)
“I have not been tamed,” said Finnerack. “I have only been enslaved.”
Durdane series (1971)
“And this is Uther Madduc’s ‘wonderful joke’?”
“So I believe.”
“But what’s funny?”
“The magnificent ability of the human race to delude itself.”
The Gray Prince (1975)
Your doctrines are remarkable! As if I existed only to fulfill your cravings! Then, since I do not care to do so, the cosmos must be considered insane.
Showboat World (1975)