James Clavell Quotes

Because Johnny was especially clever I think we should make him monitor for the whole week. Don't you?

If you're a sailor, best not know how to swim. Swimming only prolongs the inevitable — if the sea wants you and your time has come.

Isn't man but a blossom taken by the wind, and only the mountains and the sea and the stars and this Land of the Gods real and everlasting?

Your daddy had to go back to school a little. He had some strange thoughts — and he wanted other grown-ups to believe them. It's not right for others to believe wrong thoughts, is it?

Isn’t it only through laughter that we become one with the gods and thus can endure life and can overcome all the horror and waste and suffering here on earth? Like tonight, watching all those brave men meet their fate here, on this shore, on this gentle night, through a karma ordained a thousand lifetimes ago, or perhaps even one. Isn’t it only through laughter we can stay human?

— No tienes que llorar, O-chan. La vida sólo es un sueño dentro de un sueño — dijo el viejo

- Отново съм хванат на тясно. Каквото и да правя, някой все ще умре. А ако не науча езика ви, цяло едно село ще загине. Не правя ли каквото искате от мен, все някой невинен умира. Не виждам изход.
- Изходът е лесен, Анджин-сан. Умрете. Не сте длъжен да понасяте непоносимото.

The earth’s round, like an orange, but this map is like its skin, cut off in ovals, north to south, laid flat and stretched a bit at the top and bottom. A Dutchman called Mercator invented the way to do this accurately twenty years ago. It’s the first accurate world map.

You must learn to control the filth of your tongue, my son. It will send you to hell.

Beyond the castle walls, the city lay in almost total darkness. Above, the moon was pallid and misted. It was a brooding, darkling night. And, it seemed to him, doom walked the heavens.

Lend a little and you have a debtor — lend a lot and you have a partner!

I write short stories. They may appear big in size, but when you consider it, they're four or five novels in one. … In return for picking up one of my books, I'm trying to give them value for their money. … the goal of writing any book is to create the illusion that what you are reading is reality and you're part of it.

First the priests arrive. Then the conquistadores.

God bless mommy and daddy, and please can we have some candy.

I'm going to pray to our leader every time!