David Gemmell quotes - page 6

Man alone, it seems, lives all his life in the knowledge of death. And yet there is more to life than merely waiting for death. For life to have meaning, there must be a purpose. A man must pass something on - otherwise he is useless. (David Gemmell)
It never ceases to surprise me how few friends the doomed have. One moment they are surrounded by smilingfaces, the next they are uterly friendless. View quote
David Gemmell
Our ancestors have fought wars since time. And won them. More than that, we have built societies and held them together. We are the rulers, Gaise. We are the mighty. Remember that tomorrow. View quote
David Gemmell
The world would be a sad place without mysteries. View quote
David Gemmell
I was on top of the mountain. But there was nothing there. Just clouds. And I found that you can't live on that mountain. But when it throws you off - oh, how you long for it! I would kill to climb it again. I would sell my soul. It is so stupid. [...] I took the standard. And now I can't even become a farmer again. The mountain won't let me. View quote
David Gemmell
We sit here safe, within a circle of swords held by other men. View quote
David Gemmell
Do not speak badly of yourself, for the warrior that is inside you hears your words and is lessened by them. You are strong and you are brave. There is a nobility of spirit within you. Let it grow - you will do well enough. View quote
David Gemmell
Why do they do it?" whispered Horeb. "Their eyes, you mean?" said Rek. "Yes. How can a man put out his own eyes?" "Damned if I know. They say it aids their visions." "Sounds about as sensible as cutting off your staff in order to aid your sex life. View quote
David Gemmell
I don't think I would be too comfortable with many of his compliments... He's a butcher!" "More than that, my friend... he is a warmaster. And that makes him a master butcher. View quote
David Gemmell
This bow I held had killed many men, and it had power, dread power, in its ebony stock. View quote
David Gemmell
You kol-isha think you know everything. You think the world was created for your pleasure, but you do not understand the land. You sit there and you breathe and you feel the cold earth beneath you, and you notice nothing. And why? Because you live your lives in cities of stone, building walls to keep at bay the spirit of the land. You see nothing. You hear nothing. You feel nothing. (David Gemmell)
A man can be aroused to anger as easily as he is aroused to rut. The two emotions are closely linked. Anger and lust. So the warrior is aroused in battle and fights to dominate. View quote
David Gemmell
A methodical people," pulsed the voice of Kesa Khan. "They call themselves civilized because they can build tall castles and pitch their tents with geometric precision, but from here you can see the reality. Ants build in the same way. Are they civilized? View quote
David Gemmell
Most men mock what they can never aspire to. View quote
David Gemmell
War is for men, for honor and glory. View quote
David Gemmell
For the lion to to prosper the deer must die. All the world is combat. View quote
David Gemmell
We all of us carry the seed of evil in our hearts and souls ... Even the purest, even the most holy. It is part of the human condition, born in us. We cannot root it out. All that we can do - at best - is to prevent it from germinating. View quote
David Gemmell
Look around you - this [land] is cold, inhospitable. Only the strong survive. Here there are no green fields, no verdant pastures. A warrior is old by the time he is thirty. We have no energy to spend on pretty words. View quote
David Gemmell
If you look at any ancient civilization, they've all used fantasy stories to train the young. View quote
David Gemmell
‘Is the war coming to Eldacre, my lord?' asked Ramus, as he settled into the chair. 'I fear it is. A more stupid and wasteful business there never was. Fields will not be planted, food will run low, tax revenues will dry up - save from the makers of swords and munitions.' View quote
David Gemmell
I don't understand how any man would wish to pursue such a away of life.Causing pain, being hurt, risking death - and for what? so that a crowd of fat-bellied merchants can see blood flow. (David Gemmell)
Yes, love [...] can heal the wounds of hatred. Love can eradicate lust and greed. Through love a man of evil can come to find repentance and redemption. For the Source abandons no man. View quote
David Gemmell
I am not going to kill a man because he won't let us rob him." "Then go back to your mother and send for a man who wants to win. View quote
David Gemmell
I remember a tutor who told me that all the world's hunters have eyes that faced front: lions, hawks, wolves, men ... He said man was no different from the tiger. We are nature's killers, and we have great appetites for it ... Listen, Rayvan, the beast is in all of us. We do our best in life, but often we are mean, or petty, or needlessly cruel. We don't mean to be, but that's the way we are. View quote
David Gemmell
Men! What do they know? They never grow up. View quote
David Gemmell