Madouc

Quotes

1. I may be called upon to address the company. No one will listen, of course, which is just as well, since I have nothing to say.

   p. 954

2. 

   He adjudicated the case in a manner I still find perplexing, but which must have been equitable, since it pleased no one.

   p. 967

3. 

   The mind was a marvellous instrument, thought Shimrod; when left to wander untended, it often arrived at curious destinations.

   p. 968

4. 

   “Dame Fairy of the Silver Eyes: allow me to put you a question, which is this: where should I seek the Holy Grail?”

   “Determine its location and go to that spot; that is my wise advice.”

   Travante spoke tentatively: “If you could guide me to my lost youth, I would be most grateful.”

   Twisk jumped high in the air, pirouetted, settled slowly to the ground. “I am not an index of the world’s worries. I know nothing either of Christian crockery nor truant time! And now: silence!

   p. 881

5. 

   “We are supposed to set you a good example,” said Devonet. “As a start, I will point out that a lady of refinement would not wish to be found so high in a tree.”

   “Then I am a lady of refinement well and truly,” said Madouc, “since I did not wish to be found.”

   p. 718

6. 

   Madouc, this is my advice: pick up yonder clod of dirt, and tender it to that pop-eyed little imp, speaking these words: “Zocco, with this token I both imburse and reimburse you, in full fee and total account, now and then, anon and for ever, in this world and all others, and in every other conceivable respect, for each and every service you have performed for me or in my behalf, real or imaginary, to the limits of time, in all directions.”

   p. 731

7. 

   “Tell me, then! What is so important?”

   “Your life! I could not bear that you should lose it!”

   “I feel much the same. Say on.”

   p. 948

8. 

   King Aillas talks softly and with great politeness; he has the uncomfortable skill of calling one a false-hearted blackguard, a liar, a cheat and a villain, but making it seem a fulsome compliment.

   p. 807

9. 

   “I watch the sea and the sky; sometimes I wade in the surf and build roads in the sand. At night I study the stars.”

   “You have no friends?”

   “No.”

   “And what of the future?”

   “The future stops at ‘now’.”

   “As to that, I am not so sure,” said Shimrod. “It is at best a half-truth.”

   “What of that? Half a truth is better than none: do you not agree?”

   “Not altogether,” said Shimrod. “I am a practical man, I try to control the shape of the ‘nows’ which lie in the offing, instead of submitting to them as they occur.”

   Melancthe gave an uninterested shrug. “You are free to do as you like.” Leaning back in the divan, she looked out across the sea.

   Shimrod finally spoke. “Well then: are you ‘good’ or ‘bad’?”

   “I don’t know.”

   Shimrod became vexed. “Talking with you is like visiting an empty house.”

   Melancthe considered a moment before responding. “Perhaps,” she said, “you are visiting the wrong house. Or perhaps you are the wrong visitor.”

   p. 783

10. 

    In measured tones he answered Madouc: “Your condition lacks dignity; you bring ridicule upon us all.”

    Madouc gave a stony shrug. “If you do not like what you see, look elsewhere.”

    p. 928

11. 

    I have seen all I care to see and heard rather more.

    p. 792

12. 

    Sir, your ideas are incorrect in every possible respect.

    p. 848

13. 

    “Poor Pymfyd! Your world is built of fear and dread! As for me, I have no time for such emotions.”

    Pymfyd spoke in an even voice. “You are a royal princess and I may not call you a witless little fool, even should the thought cross my mind.”

    Madouc turned him a sad blue-eyed glance. “So that, after all, is your concept of me.”

    “I will say only this: persons who fear nothing are soon dead.”

    p. 722

14. 

    What is peace? Balance three iron skewers tip to tip, one upon the other; at the summit, emplace and egg, so that it too poises static in mid-air, and there you have the condition of peace in this world of men.

    p. 750

15. 

    He used a name for himself, true, but we played at Romance, and this is a game where truth is a bagatelle.

    p. 904

That’s all the quotes.

15 quotes in the collection · come back when we add more