16 quotes
The deeds of conquest and omnipotence have a sameness, as does the exposition of most evil.
Delirium's Mistress (1986)
You will go to any length, however sumptuous or cataclysmic, in order solely to avoid the words: it appears I am at fault.
Delirium's Mistress (1986)
Though they were beautiful, so are fires and leopards.
Delirium's Mistress (1986)
Truth is at the door, howling and stamping her foot. Truth is not always decorous.
Delirium's Mistress (1986)
“What can we do?” said they, limping home. “We are only ordinary men.”
By which they meant they thought themselves extraordinary enough that their skins must be saved at all costs.
Delirium's Mistress (1986)
Ebriel regarded his adversary. His eyes grew peculiarly lambent, as though he had come to love her. Of course, they were sworn foes; perhaps he had.
Delirium's Mistress (1986)
No, she is cruel and pitiless and indifferent (which we have learned, through her teaching, the gods are to mankind—and indeed, have not the lessons of our lives ceaselessly informed us this was so?).
Delirium's Mistress (1986)
Is the only challenge in the world to be greed and viciousness? Is the only satisfying power the power of the ascent over men, the only dream, ambition? And must the alternative to greed, evil, ambition—be only sluggishness?
Delirium's Mistress (1986)
Fashions change. Even in mythology.
Delirium's Mistress (1986)
“The gods will take notice, Mother, of our righteous distress, and come to my assistance.” In this pious belief she was, of course, quite mistaken (since in those days the gods cared nothing for mankind).
Delirium's Mistress (1986)
“I rule none of it,” called Atmeh to heaven. “Listen to me, you peerless soulless gods, I rule nothing and no one, and soon, soon I will outshine you, for I will be a mortal. And one day, as you never can, I and mine shall inherit the earth.”
Delirium's Mistress (1986)
Oloru slumped against the tree, shivering and shedding tears, white as death, calling to the gods piteously.
“The gods?” inquired Sovaz. “You know they have no care for men. For yourself, what do you need with gods?”
Delirium's Mistress (1986)
“What have you seen since last you looked on me?”
He said, “Misery and want, and fear, and death. I saw a beggar begging for help from a muddy stream. He told me it was as much use to do that as to beg help of heaven.”
Delirium's Mistress (1986)
Various had been the cruelties of the goddess in the early years of her reign. At Azhrarn’s instruction she performed many deeds in order to educate the earth and the viciousness of the gods, and, more important, their indifference to all human suffering.
Delirium's Mistress (1986)
The groaning and the screaming, the prayers—useless and known to be useless—the exhortations, scrabbling attempts at exodus, the burrowings that would yield no safety, the ecstasies of madness and immolation—each and all occurred: the correct paraphernalia of catastrophe. But, seen from the heavens, what was it but a fomentation in a hill of termites? That which is so small cannot be important.
Delirium's Mistress (1986)
As for kisses, he kissed you well. I have his new memories to add to the old. But that life is only a mirage. It has been joyful enough to be a youth, and spry and agile in the horizontal art, but age and immobility have their compensations. The adventurous existence will inevitably pall, for the man who thinks.
Delirium's Mistress (1986)