David Gemmell Quotes & Sayings

The truth. Men will blind themselves with hot irons, rather than face it. — David Gemmell

Is it not obvious? What is life but a betrayal? We start out young, full of hope. The sun is good, the world awaits us. But every passing year shows how small you are, how insignificant against the power of the seasons. Then you age. Your strength fails and the world laughs at you through the jeers of younger men. And you die. Alone. Unfulfilled. But sometimes ... sometimes there will come a man who is not insignificant. He can change the world, rob the seasons of their power. He is the sun. — David Gemmell

Some people are born ugly. It's not their fault, and I for one have never held it against a man that he is ugly. but others and I count myself among them are born with handsome features. That's a gift that should not be lightly taken away. — David Gemmell

There is a darkness in you. In all of us, probably. Beasts we keep chained. Ordinary men have to keep the chains strong, for if we let the beast loose then society will turn upon us with fiery vengeance. Kings though ... well, who is there to turn upon them? So the chains are made of straw. It is the curse of kings, Helikaon, that they can become monsters. And they invariably do. — David Gemmell

Never liked Kolanos. Was at a feast with him one time. Never heard him fart at all. Can't trust a man who doesn't fart at a feast. — David Gemmell

In any broth, the scum always rises to the top. — David Gemmell

Jon Shannow, the King of Kings has spoken the words of your death. I am Rhodaeul the Hunter. Do you have anything to say before you die?' 'No,' said Shannow, palming his gun and blasting Rhodaeul from the saddle. The Atlantean hit the ground hard, a hammering pain in his chest; he tried to draw his pistol, but Shannow rode forward and fired a second shot that smashed his skull. — David Gemmell

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. "For most men that purpose revolves around marriage and children — David Gemmell

I tell you, one more insult and I'll take his curling tongs and ram them so far up his arse he'll be able to curl the damned thing from the inside. — David Gemmell

[F]ear is a great ally. — David Gemmell

Fear is an aid to the warrior. It is a small fire burning. It heats the muscles, making us stronger. Panic comes when the fire is out of control, consuming all courage and pride. — David Gemmell

All things are possible, ... Except the passing of regret. — David Gemmell

I think maybe it is better to believe than not to believe. But I couldn't tell you why. — David Gemmell

Life is a struggle, from the agonies of birth to the railing against death. Devour or be devoured. The law of the wild. — David Gemmell

Why now? Why not? Live or die, a man and a woman need love. There is a need in the race. We need to share. To belong. Perhaps you will die before the year is out. But remember this: to have may be taken from you, to have had never. Far better to have tasted love before dying, than to die alone. — David Gemmell

We all have scars [ ... ] Better by far for them to be worn on the outside. — David Gemmell

Miracles are merely events that happen just when they are needed. — David Gemmell

A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity. — David Gemmell

It is said that the gates of paradise can only be opened by the tears of those left behind. I do not know whether that be true. It should be, I think. — David Gemmell

By nature of definition only the coward is capable of the highest
heroism — David Gemmell

Risks? I have lived with the prospect of assassination for years. What risks? All men die, rich and poor alike. But if I am to die, then let it be while I fight, not like some bullock in a pen waiting for the ax to fall. — David Gemmell

You were a warrior, Lantern. Such men are not renowned for understanding the infinite shades of gray that govern the actions of men. Black and white are your colors." "Scholars tend to overcomplicate matters," said Skilgannon. "If a man runs at you with a sword it would be foolish to spend time wondering what led him to such action. Was his childhood scarred by a cruel father? Did his wife leave him for another man? Was he perhaps misinformed about your intentions, and therefore has attacked you in error?" Skilgannon laughed. "Warriors need black and white, Elder Brother. Shades of gray would kill them." "True," admitted the abbot, "and yet a greater understanding that there are shades of gray would prevent many wars beginning. — David Gemmell

It is not hard to change when your biggest problem is whether the weeds prosper in a vegetable patch. — David Gemmell

Kings are chosen by the Source, so it is said ... Therefore those who fight for the king can be said to be godly. Is that not cause enough? — David Gemmell

When your life has been spent in one war after another for forty-five years, you have to be pretty handy to survive. — David Gemmell

Hold on to your dreams, Kiall. They are more important than you realise. — David Gemmell

I don't give a damn, laddie. Until the actual moment, when they cut me down, I shall still be looking to win. And the gods of war are fickle at best. — David Gemmell

Most wars are fought for greed, but we are luckier here we fight for our lives and the lives of the people we love. — David Gemmell

None of us can choose the manner of our passing. — David Gemmell

When healers yearn to kill then hope begins to die ... Evil cannot be overcome by evil. — David Gemmell

No man should ever completely realize his dreams. What else would there then be to live for? — David Gemmell

Many fantasy novels - 'Lord of the Rings', for instance, or 'Lavondyss' by Robert Holdstock - are beautifully written. Geoff Ryman's 'The Child Garden' is exquisite and utterly beguiling. Mervyn Peake's 'Gormenghast' trilogy is an astonishing piece of multi-faceted storytelling. So quality of writing does not condemn the genre. — David Gemmell

I am not going to talk about patriotism, duty, liberty, and the defense of freedom because that's all dung to a soldier. — David Gemmell

A warrior feeds his body well; he trains it; works on it. Where he lacks knowledge, he studies. But above all he must believe. He must believe in his strength of will, of purpose, of heart and soul. — David Gemmell

Drawing his sword, he gazed down at the gleaming blade. 'I pledge you to the destruction of Sparta,' he whispered. Raising the weapon high he pointed it to the south-east and, though the city was far beyond his range of vision, he pictured the sword poised above it with the sun's harsh light turning it to fire. — David Gemmell

Evil will never be countered while good men do nothing. — David Gemmell

Societies need heroes. So we travel to places where the revisionists cannot dismantle the great. — David Gemmell

Love is for fools. It is a surging of blood in the loins ... there is no mystery, and no magic. Find someone else, my boy. — David Gemmell

It is a merchant's nature to quibble over coins. It is how we become rich and buy satin shirts. The problems of who governs this area is one for another day. — David Gemmell

We are full of dreams [ ... ] We long for the unattainable. We believe in the nonsense of fables. There is no pure love; there is lust and there is need. — David Gemmell

Every man has his own reason for every deed. Usually it is selfish. — David Gemmell

They dont understand what real treasure is. They see it in gold and copper, and tin. They see in herds of horses or cattle. They gather treasures to themselves, building great storehouses, which they guard ferociously. Then they die. What good is it then? — David Gemmell

While men compete in war, there will be warriors. While there are warriors, there will be princes among warriors. Among the princes will be kings, and among the kings an emperor. — David Gemmell

I carry the seeds of your hatred,' he shouted, hurling his words to the winds, 'and I know where
to plant them.'
Yes, he thought, Thebes is the right destination for the Lion of Macedon. — David Gemmell

It seems to me, that you people spend a great deal of time talking about honour, but strip away the high sounding words and you are no different from any other race. Family? Has Priam not killed wayward sons? When a king dies do his sons not go to war with one another to succeed him? Men speak of how you reacted to your father's death. They say it was amazing, for you did not order your little brother's execution. Your race thrives on blood and death, Helikaon. Your ships raid the coasts of other nations, stealing slaves, burning and plundering. Warriors brag of how many men they have killed, and women they have raped. Almost all of your kings either seized their thrones with swords and murder, or are children of men who seized power with swords and murder. So put all this talk of honour to one side. — David Gemmell

Less of a Galahad than a Lancelot, thought Archer. A flawed knight in a flawed world, unstable yet unyielding. — David Gemmell

You may think life is sweet now, but when death is a heartbeat away then life becomes unbearably desirable. And when you survive, everything you do will be enhanced and filled with greater joy: the sunlight, the breeze, a good wine, a woman's lips, a child's laughter. — David Gemmell

There's no shame in fear. But understand this - the coward is ruled by fear, while the hero rides it like a wild stallion. — David Gemmell

Plan for the worst, expect the best. — David Gemmell

Fear cannot be trusted ... It exaggerates everything. It is both treacherous and dishonest. — David Gemmell

A man must know his limitations. — David Gemmell

Listen ... You could spend a lifetime trying to understand the works of evil men. Their joys are not ours. They love to inflict pain, create suffering, cause harm and death. It empowers them, for beneath the skin they are empty and worthless. — David Gemmell

Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone fails at something. — David Gemmell

Now the screams were awful to hear as men burned like candles all along the deck. Black smoke billowed over the sea. Argurios could not believe what he was watching. At least fifty helpless men were dying in agony. One man managed to free himself and leap into the sea. Amazingly, when he surfaced the flames were still consuming him.
All along the beach there was silence as the stunned crowd watched the magical fires burning the galley and it's crew. — David Gemmell

Love is a mystery. We embrace it where we can. Mostly we do not choose whom we love. It just happens. A voice speaks to us, in ways the ears cannot hear. We recognize a beauty the eye does not see. We experience a change in our hearts that no voice can describe. — David Gemmell

Why must I have the Piglet?' 'Because you are the best.' 'I do not understand.' 'Teach him.' 'And who teaches me?' ' As an officer, my lord, you will have many men under your command and not all will be gifted. You must learn to use each man to his best advantage ... — David Gemmell

Life is sad enough, Magir. Laughter is a thing to be treasured. — David Gemmell

A man needs many things in his life to make it bearable. A good woman. Sons and daughters. Comradeship. Warmth. Food and shelter. But above all these things, he needs to be able to know that he is a man. — David Gemmell

It is hard to be angry when one has seen the sun rise,' she said.
It seems to be true,' he admitted. 'I wonder why.'
Because it makes one feel so small and insignificant. It has been rising forever and will rise forever no matter what we do or do not do. All our problems are as nothing to the sun. — David Gemmell

The night has a capacity for terror that the day can never match. — David Gemmell

Win or lose, we achieve nothing in the world that we understand [ ... ]' 'But then the world does not matter.' 'Indeed it does not [ ... ] It is good to understand that. — David Gemmell

I underestimated you, woman." ... "The cry of men down the ages. — David Gemmell

No, but if you will forgive me, let me say this: all children are creatures of joy, and all people are capable of love. You feel you lost everything, but there was a time before your joy when your children did not exist and your wife was unknown to you. Could it not be that there is a woman somewhere who will fill your life with love, and bear you children to bring you joy? — David Gemmell

The purpose of debates is to explore issues, not end them. — David Gemmell

Boy," said Druss, his eyes cold, "think well about this venture. For make no mistake, you cannot
stand before me and live. No man ever has." The words were spoken softly, yet no one disbelieved the
old man. — David Gemmell

I caught a pebble in the moonlight. — David Gemmell

My happiness is not in the gift of others. I will be happy or I will not be happy. No man will supply it or deprive me of it. — David Gemmell

No matter how impossible this war, I shall fight to win. Whatever I have to do, I will do. — David Gemmell

This is the real magic of fantasy fiction: it can feed souls and change lives. — David Gemmell

Come back and stand with us, lad. We will all go down together that's what makes us who we are. — David Gemmell

The nature of a coward is to avoid death. If such a man courts peril there can be only two reasons. Either he is not a coward at all or there is no danger. — David Gemmell

A man can overcome his background, even as he can overcome a skilled opponent. — David Gemmell

I would have offered you a forest of truth, but you wish to speak of a single leaf — David Gemmell

Hatred is like a plague. It is all-consuming, and it springs from man to man. — David Gemmell

Death haunts everyone and never fails — David Gemmell

I make little distinction betwee those who commit evil and those who stand by and do nothing. — David Gemmell

War is the enemy of civilization. We cannot grow through war, Xander. It drags us down, filling our hearts with hatred and thoughts of revenge. — David Gemmell

How simple love would be, Younger Brother, if we only had to bestow it on those who deserved it. Yet what would it be worth? If you gave a poor man a silver coin then that would be a gift. If you expected him to pay you back, then that would make it a loan. We do not loan our love, Lantern. We give it freely. — David Gemmell

In any broth, the scum [politicians] always rises to the top. — David Gemmell

Your men are brave men, And you have won. I can live with that, Earl of Bronze a poor man would I be if I could not. — David Gemmell

Man is capable of greatness, love, nobility, compassion. Yet never forget that his capacity for evil is infinite. It is a sad truth, boy, that if you sit now and think of the worst tortures that could ever be inflicted on another human being, they will already have been practiced somewhere. If there is one sound that follows the march of humanity, it is the scream. — David Gemmell

It is easier with strangers, for they touch your life but for an instant. You will not disappoint them, for you owe them nothing; neither do they expect anything. Friends you can hurt, for they expect everything. — David Gemmell

It is said a man doesn't get old while his mother lives. I think it's true. You are always a child in her eyes. It is irritating in the extreme. But you know, when they have gone, you'd give the earth just to hear them treating you like a child once more. — David Gemmell

[ ... ] In real war an officer may have only one chance at succeeding. Consider each problem. — David Gemmell

The point is [ ... ] that you never know whether you've lost until you've lost. Anything can happen. — David Gemmell

If you want to fight evil, you have to climb down in the slime to do so. — David Gemmell

The world would be a sadder place without stories. — David Gemmell

If we are still discussing its merits tomorrow, I will agree with you," said Diagoras.
"Cheer up, laddie. Nobody lives forever."
"Oh I expect you will, Druss, Old Horse. It's the mortals around you who always seem to kiss the granite. — David Gemmell

This world has few redeeming features, and one is the capacity for people to love one another with great, enduring passion. — David Gemmell

It would be a fine thing if war could be conducted as a game where no lives were lost. At the end of a battle combatants could meet [ ... ] and drink and talk. — David Gemmell

Do not expect help.' 'One should always hope.' 'Then hope for a handsome savage with kindly ways. — David Gemmell

Liberty is only valued when it is threatened, therefore it is the threat that highlights the value. We should be grateful to the Nadir, since they heighten the value of our liberty. — David Gemmell

Blood always aids blood, my friend. — David Gemmell

Men don't change. They just learn to disguise the lack of change. — David Gemmell

I have discovered in my long life that there are many words and phrases which have more power than any spell of magick. The most well-known of these is, of course, I love you. But by far the most deadly is, if only. For these two words can strip a man's strength, his courage and his confidence. They become the father of regret and anguish and pain. — David Gemmell

Kassandra put her arm around her. "One day we will have no bones," the girl said happily, "and our dust will swirl among the stars. — David Gemmell

Yours is a race whose imagination is limited to its own small appetites. Greed, lust, envy - these are the motivating forces of humankind. What redeems you is that in every man and woman there is a seed that can grow to encompass love, joy and compassion. But this seed is never allowed to prosper in fertile ground. It struggles for life among the rocks of your human soul. — David Gemmell

In every one of us is the total of all we have ever been, the sullen child, the arrogant youth, the suckling babe. Every fear endured in childhood is lodged somewhere in here.' He tapped his temple. 'And every act of heroism or cowardice, generosity or meanness of spirit. — David Gemmell

A man should not risk his life for beauty alone, Kiall, for that fades. You might as well risk it for a rose. Think on it. — David Gemmell

Old age is not as honorable as death, but most people seek it. — David Gemmell