20 quotes
Mere abstention from a life of evil does not constitute a life devoted to good works.
Kesrick (1982)
The past has lost, as it always loses; the future has won, as it always wins.
Time War (1974)
Lux forced grief from his mind, thinking grimly of revenge.
Time War (1974)
Love, it seems, has its own arguments which are so potent that cool Reason can seldom, if ever, prevail.
“If one doesn’t learn from one’s unhappy experiences,” he wisely observed, “what’s the point of all that suffering?”
The Wizard of Zao (1978)
Knowing that you possess a talent is half the battle in mastering it.
Time War (1974)
What use to covet loot, when even stars must die?
Tower at the Edge of Time (1968)
However, as one or another of the philosophers has probably noted ere now, the morning was not quite over yet.
Kesrick (1982)
He was reluctantly forced to conclude that his sanity was unshaken.
Time War (1974)
Day dawned, as day generally does, in so spectacular a manner as to seem rather show-offy were it to be encountered among any less significant meteorological phenomena.
The Wizard of Zao (1978)
You will observe, I think, that repentance is seldom whole-hearted, and generally arises from such base and ignoble motives as feeling sorry for yourself in dire circumstances.
Kesrick (1982)
Chan’s heart knew only greed, but there was within him enough intelligence to wonder before a man who could see all the uselessness of life, and still exult in the possessing of it.
Tower at the Edge of Time (1968)
Yes, a woman makes a fine weapon in capable hands...slim and supple as a sword blade...and a blade to which no man’s armor is completely proof.
Tower at the Edge of Time (1968)
The expression on his features was one of a pained disapproval, similar to that of a gentleman of the cloth when observing the young folks behaving like young folks.
The Wizard of Zao (1978)
“Umm,” said Ooo, dubiously.
“Do I detect a questioning tone in your voice?” inquired the bird tartly. “Which might imply that you find a flaw in my reasoning?”
The Wizard of Zao (1978)
Theological disputations are a favorite hobby of mine, but even the most eloquent and learned disputant finds his abilities wane before the persuasiveness of the thumb-lock, the nose-pincers and the molten boot.
“What’s a simurgh?”
“A member of the winged species avian simurghi,” sniffed the simurgh. “Easy to identify because of his gorgeous plumage, ready wit, intelligent conversation, amiable disposition, and fabulous abilities.”
The Wizard of Zao (1978)
It pleased Oolb Votz on this occasion to recommend himself to The God in His Aspect of Kaphoom the Sly, Patron of Confidence Men, Charlatans, Swindlers, Phonies, Advertising Executives, and All Priests.
The Wizard of Zao (1978)
“I am not complaining, mind you,” the simurgh was saying in a grumpy, peevish tone of voice a while later, “I was merely pointing out that when one must tamper with the forces of nature, it is better to err on the side of caution and of prudence, than to be too liberal.”
The Wizard of Zao (1978)
Sheb being a theocracy was naturally ruled by the priests, and priests are naturally bigoted in favor of their own narrow creed, and intolerant of differences of opinion on theological matters. It’s really too bad that things are that way, but there you are: you have to take the world the way it is, not the way you would prefer it to be.
The Wizard of Zao (1978)