Roger Zelazny

Quotes

1. From Hellwell to Heaven he went, there to commune with the gods. The Celestial City holds many mysteries, including some of the keys to his own past. Not all that transpired during the time he dwelled there is known. It is known, however, that he petitioned the gods on behalf of the world, obtaining the sympathy of some, the enmity of others. Had he chosen to betray humanity and accept the proffers of the gods, it is said by some that he might have dwelled forever as a Lord of the City and not have met his death beneath the claws of the phantom cats of Kaniburrha...

2. 

   Time like an ocean, space like its water, Sam in the middle, standing, decided.

3. 

   "You fertility deities are worse than Marxists," he said. "You think that's all that goes on between people. We were just friends for a time, but she is too hard on her friends and so loses them."

   p. 175

4. 

   "There are only demigods and men upon the field," said Death. "They are still testing our strength. There are very few who remember the full power of Kalkin."

   "The full power of Kalkin?" asked Sam. "That has never been released, oh Death. Not in all the ages of the world.

   p. 244

5. 

   It is told that Pannalal the Sage, having sharpened his mind with meditation and divers asceticisms, had divined the operation of the lock and entered Hellwell, spending a day and a night beneath the mountain. He was thereafter known as Pannalal the Mad.

6. 

   As you know, the personal strengths and weakness of a leader are no true indication of the merits of his cause.

   p. 120

7. 

   When there is no real hope we must mint our own. If the coin be counterfeit it may still be passed.

   p. 7

8. 

   Then the fit hit the Shan.

9. 

   The definition of bad karma is anything our friends the gods don't like.

   p. 57

10. 

    Even a mirror will not show you yourself, if you do not wish to see.

    p. 123

11. 

    "Think not less of me in my omniscience ... if I admit to having, for the moment, forgotten these figures."

12. 

    I just wanted to try another line on the audience. It is difficult to stir rebellion among those to whom all things are good. There is no room for evil in their minds, despite the fact that they suffer it constantly. The slave upon the rack who knows that he will be born again — perhaps as a fat merchant — if he suffers willingly — his outlook is not the same as that of a man with but one life to live. He can bear anything, knowing that great as his present pain may be, his future pleasure will rise higher. If such a one does not choose to believe in good or evil, perhaps then beauty and ugliness can be made to serve him as well. Only the names have been changed.

    p. 38