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Quotes from Memory — Lois McMaster Bujold

born 1949 United States

← All quotes by Lois McMaster Bujold

24 quotes

Some prices are just too high, no matter how much you may want the prize. The one thing you can’t trade for your heart’s desire is your heart.

Memory (1996)

Self-sedation seemed to require more alcohol than it used to, a problem easily remedied.

Memory (1996)

Never argue with a pedant over nomenclature. It wastes your time and annoys the pedant.

Memory (1996)

How could you be a Great Man if history brought you no Great Events, or brought you to them at the wrong time, too young, too old? Too damaged.

Memory (1996)

I was never a mercenary, not ever. Not for one single minute.

Memory (1996)

“If you can’t win, change the game.”
Ivan twitched a brow upward. “If there’s no game, isn’t winning a pretty meaningless concept?”

Memory (1996)

If we get straight truth in, maybe we’ve got half a chance of getting good judgment out. No damn chance otherwise, that’s for sure.

Memory (1996)

I despise internal investigations. Even if you win, you lose.

Memory (1996)

You can’t just…ignore them out of existence though apparently that’s exactly what you’ve been attempting.

Memory (1996)

The last thing a monster wanted was a fellow to follow him around all day long with a mirror.

Memory (1996)

Well, if you couldn’t be good, at least you could be discreet.

Memory (1996)

Their excitement was dampened by a genuine concern for their daughter’s safety and personal happiness, though they are certainly as puzzled how this is to be achieved as any other set of parents.

Memory (1996)

Was winning all he really wanted? Or did he still want also to be seen to have won? And by whom?

Memory (1996)

General. Prudence is one thing. Paranoia that can’t tell friend from foe is quite another.

Memory (1996)

Ordinary men and women…die every day. For all sorts of reasons, from random chance to inexorable time. Death is not an Imperial monopoly.

Memory (1996)

I wouldn’t be lying. I’d just be editing my report for length.

Memory (1996)

It wasn’t fair, for people to go and change on him, while his back was turned being dead. To change without giving notice, or even asking permission.

Memory (1996)

Well, good going with your captaincy. I know you worked for it, even though you pretend not to.

Memory (1996)

It was never what I wanted to buy that held my heart’s hope. It was what I wanted to be.

Memory (1996)

But I am not my father. I don’t have to repeat his mistakes; I can invent bright-new ones.

Memory (1996)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Lois McMaster Bujold (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.