Top 15 Jack Vance Quotes

Rute showed Maihac a sour smile. “You seem to lack confidence in my integrity.”
“You are wealthy,” said Maihac. “Your money did of the come to you because of your bonhomie.”

“You make very narrow distinctions.”
“Of course! That is the nature of clear thinking.”

“My term of penitence is over and tomorrow I leave this dust hole and that sullen beast Arsloe behind—forever, or so I hope. I must take pains, of course, to avoid my previous faults.”
“What did you do?” asked Gaing. “Did you—” and he coarsely suggested an act of sexual perversion committed upon the young daughter of the Chief Magistrate.
“No, nothing like that. What I did was worse. I gave voice to unpopular opinions.”

Sacerdotal, religious or priest-dominated societies are like organisms with a cancer.

One thing was certain: when someone searched into secret places, he often came up with things he would rather not have found.

They meant no harm, of course; they wanted only that he be like themselves, which was the prerogative of all parents.

Althea cried out in dismay: “Is that what you believe?”
“In the absence of evidence I believe nothing,” said Dr. Fiorio.

Jaro, my dear, there is no mystery about violence. It is the reflexive act of brutes, boors and moral defectives.

The mind was a marvellous instrument, thought Shimrod; when left to wander untended, it often arrived at curious destinations.

He adjudicated the case in a manner I still find perplexing, but which must have been equitable, since it pleased no one.

I may be called upon to address the company. No one will listen, of course, which is just as well, since I have nothing to say.

“Tell me, then! What is so important?”
“Your life! I could not bear that you should lose it!”
“I feel much the same. Say on.”

In measured tones he answered Madouc: “Your condition lacks dignity; you bring ridicule upon us all.”
Madouc gave a stony shrug. “If you do not like what you see, look elsewhere.”

He used a name for himself, true, but we played at Romance, and this is a game where truth is a bagatelle.

“Dame Fairy of the Silver Eyes: allow me to put you a question, which is this: where should I seek the Holy Grail?”
“Determine its location and go to that spot; that is my wise advice.”
Travante spoke tentatively: “If you could guide me to my lost youth, I would be most grateful.”
Twisk jumped high in the air, pirouetted, settled slowly to the ground. “I am not an index of the world’s worries. I know nothing either of Christian crockery nor truant time! And now: silence!