Kirkbride Quotes & Sayings

Even after years of war, some men retained scruples about licensed
homicide. [ ... ] Lieutenant Peter Downward commanded the sniper
platoon of 13 Para. He had never himself killed a man with a rifle,
but one day he found himself peering at a German helmet just visible
at the corner of an air-raid shelter
an enemy sniper.
I had his head spot in the middle of my telescopic sight, my safety
catch was off, but I simply couldn't press the trigger. I suddenly
realised that I had a young man's life in my hands, and for the cost
of one round, about twopence, I could wipe out eighteen or nineteen
years of human life. My dithering deliberations were brought back to
earth with a bump as Kirkbride suddenly shouted: 'Go on, sir. Shoot
the bastard! He's going to fire again.' I pulled the trigger and saw
the helmet jerk back. I had obviously got him, and felt completely
drained ... What had I done? — Max Hastings

He waited until he heard sounds of sleep, which didn't take long. Then he prayed, to the Devil. — Mark Kirkbride

They say the mad live in a world of dreams, or nightmares. I just need to find the way out. — Mark Kirkbride

It was true. She was his soul's star. His heart ignited every time she came into the room, flared with every just-so gesture. Anything she touched became instantly talismanic. — Mark Kirkbride

I reinvented myself. I acquired a taste for evil. I found I have a talent for it. And I murdered the old me. — Mark Kirkbride

Because, visible through the slashed covers, the bone-deep wounds that crisscross the couple's bodies pump blood. Some of the flaps of skin resulting from glancing blows are like gills, breathing. Yet even as the cries die away, he carries on. — Mark Kirkbride

There is no reason why an individual, who has the misfortune to become insane, should, on that account, be deprived of any comfort or even luxury... — Thomas Story Kirkbride