David Gemmell Quotes

British author of heroic fantasy (1948-2006)

David Andrew Gemmell (1 August 1948 – 28 July 2006) was a bestselling British author of heroic fantasy. A former journalist and newspaper editor, Gemmell had his first work of fiction published in 1984. He went on to write over thirty novels. Best known for his debut, Legend, Gemmell's works display violence, yet also explore themes of honour, loyalty and redemption. With over one million copies sold, his work continues to sell worldwide.

From: Wikiquote (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Pen Names: Ross Harding

Alternative Names: David Andrew Gemmell

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We sit here safe, within a circle of swords held by other men.

Galand and his brother paused by the corpse.
“He doesn’t seem too unhappy,” said Parsal, scratching his beard.
“It’s hard to know whether he’s smiling or whether death has pulled his face into a grin,” said Galand. “He won’t look too happy in about a month.”
“Will we?” whispered Parsal. Galand shrugged, and the brothers moved on to follow the others.

In any broth, the scum always rises to the top.

Rubbish! ... No man fights for dirt and grass. No, nor mountains. Those mountains were here before the fall and they will be here when the world topples again.

Gentlemen, you are in sorry condition. But war will render you yet more sorry. The soldier will fight in mud and hail, snow and ice, drought and flood. It is rare that a warrior gets to fight in comfort.

All men have talents. Some build, some paint, some write, some fight. For me it is different.

Why am I taking seduction advice from a man whose idea of foreplay is to slam coins on the table and shout: 'Who wants to ride the big horse?'"

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

I'm not laughing at you. [...] I'm laughing at the whole stupid business. We face the biggest threat in our history and they give me a helmet too big,and you a helmet too small, and tell us we can't exchange them. It's too much. Really.

The world would be a sad place without mysteries.

It is a rare man who notices a handsome woman.

You have suffered many wounds." [...] "It shows how many skilled swordsmen there are.

We don't seem to be overflowing with luck." "You make your own. I put no faith in gods, Lake. Never have. If they exist, they care very little—if at all—about ordinary mortals. I put my faith in me, and do you know why? Because I have never lost!

How do you decide a battle is lost? Numbers, strategic advantage, positioning? It's all worth a sparrow's fart. It comes down to men who are willing. The largest army will founder if its men are less willing to die than to win.

None of us can choose the manner of our passing.