# Wyst: Alastor 1716

- Author: [Jack Vance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-vance.md)
- Quotes: 13
- Book page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-vance/wyst-alastor-1716

## Quotes

> It is all sheer egocentricity: the myth of self triumphant over destiny!

p. 356

> “I wonder, sir, if you’d be good enough to advise me.”
>
> “Certainly, within the limits of discretion,” said Eubanq. “I should warn you, however, that free advice is usually not worth its cost.”

p. 417

> So much existed: so much to be felt and seen and known! A single life was not enough…

p. 307

> Jantiff gave a hollow laugh. “Who now is the exploiter, monopolist, elitist tycoon and all the rest? What of egalism now?”
>
> Esteban retorted in a debonair, if somewhat edgy, voice: “Egalism is all very well, and I subscribe to it! Still: why deny the obvious? Everyone wants to make the most of their life.”

p. 342

> The words must be spoken. The thoughts must be thought. The plans must be planned. The deeds must be done.

p. 389

> Every Arrabin desperately asserts his individuality, with personal tricks and fads. A futile kind of life, no doubt, but isn’t all life futile?

p. 347

> “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!”

p. 361

> “Still, moderation, I beg of all of you!”
>
> “But not too much of it!” Dobbo called out. “We’d be defeating only ourselves. Moderation must be practiced in moderation.”

p. 383

> “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?”

p. 341

> “Remember, my dear, Jantiff isn’t an egalist like the rest of us; he wants to do something quite extraordinary and individualistic.”
>
> “Yes, partly that,” said Jantiff, wishing that he had never ventured an opinion. “But it’s more like this: here I am, born into life with certain capabilities. If I don’t use these capabilities and achieve my utmost then I’m cheating myself, and living a soiled life.
>
> “Hmm,” said Tanzel sagely. “If everyone were like you, the world would be a very nervous place.” Jantiff gave an embarrassed laugh. “No cause for worry; there don’t seem to be many people like me.”

p. 321

> “I am not skilled at inventing punishments.”
>
> “Nor are they to my taste. I enjoy creating conditions of justice. All too often, however, I must ordain harsh penalties. It is the disagreeable side to my work. The preferences of the criminal, of course, can’t be considered; as often as not, he will opt for leniency even no punishment whatever.”

p. 468

> Still, this way of life, peculiar as it seems, is not necessarily a bad system. I suspect that every style of life works our to be a tradeoff between various kinds of freedoms. There are naturally many different freedoms, and sometimes one freedom implies the absence of another.

p. 325

> “While we were gone someone broke into my case and stole most of my things.”
>
> The news seemed to drive Skorlet close to the limits of self-control. “And what do you expect?” she snapped in an unpleasantly harsh voice. “This is an egalistic country; why should you have more than anyone else?”
>
> “I have been over-egalized,” said Jantiff drily. “To the effect that I now have less than anyone else.”

p. 324