Taylor Anderson > Quotes

“If history teaches us anything at all, it is that sooner or later, wherever you go or whatever you do, the sad, brutal fact remains that you're almost bound to run into somebody or something that really needs killin'.”
― Taylor Anderson

“I finally figured out the real difference between irony and satire--irony is when you fry a chicken in batter mixed from its own eggs, and satire is when you crack jokes about it.”
― Taylor Anderson

“The oldest rule in the book is that you can delegate authority, but never responsibility—not even to higher authority.”
― Taylor Anderson, Deadly Shores

“If I fail, it will because I did something wrong. Not because I did nothing!”
― Taylor Anderson, Iron Gray Sea

“The'll have to kill me before I die--Yellowbeard”
― Taylor Anderson

“When the report came that the American destroyer was actually towing the enormous enemy ship, once again something stirred within him. Rather than make an easy escape, the destroyer had done everything she could to aid her slower consort. That was honor. They may be the enemy, but Sato could still find it within himself to respect them for what they’d done.”
― Taylor Anderson, Crusade

“Never underestimate the delusional power of irrationality, or the wild lie told often enough with suitable conviction!”
― Taylor Anderson, Storm Surge

“A few Grik lunged at them, but the vast majority only wanted to get out of their way. These they left alone, conserving ammunition. It was a little disconcerting. They’d never seen so many “civilian” Grik before, and it was stunning how little fight they had in them.

“What a buncha pansies!” Silva panted, still having trouble with the heavy, wretched air. Three Grik had nearly fallen over themselves trying to clear his path when he menaced them with the Thompson. Its barrel was still smoking after a long burst he fired down a congested alley where another column of warriors was struggling to get at them. Those that followed fired into the writhing mass as well, the heavy booming of their rifles much louder than the stutter of the Thompson.

“Pansies!” Petey cawed. “Pansies! Ack! Goddamn!”
― Taylor Anderson, Deadly Shores

“If the Good Lord meant men to use percussion caps, he wouldn't have strung flint all over the ground.”
― Taylor Anderson

“I’ve often heard it said that teaching makes a smart man wise. I’m not sure that’s true in a classroom, but out here?” He shrugged. “It sure shows you what you don’t know, and in our situation, you’d better find an answer. Chances are, somebody has one.”
― Taylor Anderson, Distant Thunders

“What brings the whole back row of the chessboard to my modest little abode?”
― Taylor Anderson, Firestorm

“You almost got me there, at the beginning, with your . . . unorthodox attack. Nothing to it, really, but experienced aggression, but sometimes that’s enough to give you an advantage over more classically trained opponents. It’s distracting, and not at all expected. If you can finish it then, why, what difference does it make how good you actually are?” Matt”
― Taylor Anderson, Rising Tides

“Where I come from, freedom isn’t something a man can give; it comes from God. You’re born with it. Sometimes men have to fight to keep others from taking it away, and all too often good men give their lives so that God-given freedom can endure.”
― Taylor Anderson, Firestorm

“There was no hiding the fact that they were in a predicament, but there was no hesitation to mention failings that might reflect poorly on any department. That made it easier for the captain to assess the situation. He doubted a similar meeting aboard his own ship would have progressed as well,”
― Taylor Anderson, Into the Storm

“It’s not your fault, sir!” “Isn’t it?” Jim sighed. “Maybe not, but it’s my responsibility.” “He shot you!” Jim laughed bitterly. “A good commander would have shot him first!”
― Taylor Anderson, Into the Storm

“How little he’d known at the time; beneath his nervousness and protestation a warrior was what he was. Or perhaps, deep down, he knew it all along. Maybe that was why he allowed himself to be bullied and never tried to win the frequent bouts of his youth. Or maybe he was afraid of what he’d become. Afraid he would like it.”
― Taylor Anderson, Crusade

“...playing possum was a skill he'd learned in China once upon a time, and it had come in handy more than once. When, oh, Chinese gangsters, for example, thought you were down for the count, they were less prepared when you suddenly resurrected yourself and beat them to death with a goofy jade Buddha you didn't know why you had. Life was weird that way, and it always helped to have an edge.”
― Taylor Anderson, Distant Thunders

“If they were facing you in battle and refused to yield, I think you could kill every Dom there is. But what of the ragged, half-starved woman cradling the youngling and staring hatefully at you as you pass? Can you kill her? For even if they aren’t really ‘people’ to the Doms, women will still suffer as war moves across them. Their younglings will suffer and be taught to hate.”
― Taylor Anderson, Devil's Battle