If you want to be successful, you must respect one rule: Never lie to yourself!

The taste of the usual was like cinders in his mouth, and there were moments when he felt as if he were being buried alive under his future.

Regrets, Blacksmith, make poor currency. You can't but back with them what you most desire.

We don't pretend to disagree.

I am going to pretend that all life is just a game which I must play as skilfully and fairly as I can. If I lose, I am going to shrug my shoulders and laugh—also if I win.

I've managed to include only enough historical detail to give the "flavor" of the time period while keeping the characters and story focal.

The strongest human emotion is probably love. I think it's universal. I think that across language and country and time and everything else, probably love.

I don't use the term 'miracle' lightly. I don't believe in God, or reincarnation, or destiny, or the Publishers' Clearinghouse Sweepstakes.

The thing that cowardice fears most is decision

Preach the blessings of our deeply incorporated civilization by the mouths of our eight-inch guns.