W.A. Hoffman > Quotes

“The Bible says that man lying with another man as with a woman is an abomination. I have never lain with a man as if he were a woman. I have no interest in such a thing. If I lie with a woman, it is because she is a woman and I want to treat her as one. If I lie with a man, it is because he is a man and I want to treat him as one.”
― W.A. Hoffman, Wolves

“If you’re destined for each other, the world can end – but at least you’re not alone. It’s better to drown together than to burn alone.”
― W.A. Hoffman, Brethren

“So let us do as we always have, and always continue to change the way we think, but let us not change that we do think.”
― W.A. Hoffman, Wolves

“He shrugged. "It is usually not a pleasant emotion I find myself filled with."

"And now? Do you feel it now?"

"Oui. It is pleasant. I have no name for it. Can you name yours?"

"Oui." I bit my lip. I was hesitant to speak it, as I had always been soundly rebuked for it before. "Love." He took a long breath and studied the horizon. I cringed inwardly.

"You are sure?" he asked.

"Oui."

"You have felt this before?"

"Oui, and it has gone unanswered...every time." His eyes were filled with trepidation when they found mine. "Not this time.”
― W.A. Hoffman, Brethren

“I had long ago learned to ignore things I could not resolve. Whenever I was faced with such choices, something always occured to tip the scales one way or another and relieve me of the decision.
I watched the skies for portents from the Gods.”
― W.A. Hoffman, Brethren

“But any creature has life. Man is special and unique among the beasts because we have the ability to reason. I think that is our Divine gift. I feel the Gods are likely angered by any man who refuses to claim the Divine birthright of a rational mind.”
― W.A. Hoffman, Wolves

“I wished for death," he whispered, and the words took the smile from both our lips.
His gaze met mine again, this time it was earnest and beseeching. "I knew I could not leave you behind, so I planned to kill you first. I could not. I sat here with the pistol at your head for a long time. I thought of...how much you loved me, that you would make such a request, and...I could not. So I am chained here in this life, with you." He shook his head quickly. "Non, that did not sound as it should. I...will not betray you by leaving you alone, and I cannot take you with me, so I will remain, because I love you.”
― W.A. Hoffman, Matelots

“You are a nobleman?"
I eyed him and the others listening to us with a heavy sigh. "I am the Viscount of Marsdale. My father is the Earl of Dorshire."
All eyes went wide.
"Oh, stop, it is a mere accident of birth.”
― W.A. Hoffman, Brethren

“If we fight alongside men we love, we do not fight for our lives or gold or glory or kings, but for each other. Death is less painful than watching a loved one die; and no fear is as great as being alone after the battle. And no man would appear as a coward in his lover's eyes.”
― W.A. Hoffman, Brethren

“All of your scars are on the inside, are they not?” he asked.
I nodded. “Not so severe as yours, I feel.”
“Why? Because they may not have involved as much bodily pain?”
― W.A. Hoffman, Brethren

“In my eye, men appear at their most powerful when they strain to reach that momentary perfection. Every muscle and sinew is taut, and for them there is nothing else except their bodies and the sensations. Fighting in concert, side by side, it is as if they storm the gates of Heaven demanding entry.”
― W.A Hoffman

“As usual, my first reaction to the reception of one of my overtures of philanthropy was a feeling of grace. This was always followed by a feeling of doubt. I thought through the possible courses this act of kindness could follow, and decided I did not care. I would help those I could, how I could, and damn the consequences.”
― W.A. Hoffman, Brethren

“You have dangerous friends. You need not fear enemies.”
― W.A. Hoffman, Matelots

“Do not leave me."
"I cnnot."
"Because we are chained together?" I asked sadly.
He frowned in thought. "Non, I feel it is because we are chained to something else?"
"What, a rock?" I asked with amusement.
"Non, a cart."
"So we are two centaurs chained to a cart? What is in the cart?"
"Love," he said soberly. "I think the cart is our partnership.”
― W.A. Hoffman, Matelots

“Did God not make the Devil?"
"But not in his own image." Dickey quickly countered.
"Then in what image did He make him? Is God not all things? So how could something exist beyond God that God could pattern something from? By the very definition of God's omnipresence, are not all things in God's image?"
There were frowns and grimaces all around.
"Perhaps discussing this is unwise," Harry said.
"In what way, good sir? Do you feel God will hear us from on high and judge us heretics? Did God not give us the ability to question and reason, presumably in his image?"
"Respectfully," Dickey said.
"If God feels we are being disrespectful, may he command the sharks to leap forth from the sea and bite our hairy arses," I said.
Dickey blanched. "Sir, with all due respect, yours is the hairy arse that should be bit, as you began this."
Without doffing my breeches, I hung my arse over the gunwale so that it could easily be seen by the one shark doggedly keeping pace with us on that side of the ship. It did not leap forth from the water.
"God will deal with you later, I am sure," Dickey said with a great deal of dignity.”
― W.A. Hoffman, Brethren

“I see us as the dark and the light. Two sides of the same thing. You are bright and shining and I am a thing of shadows."
"I will be your white horse and you can be my black," I murmured and held him closer.”
― W.A. Hoffman, Brethren

“I am going to kill your father," Gaston said.
"May I hold him down?"
"Will it be necessary?" he asked.
"Non, but I feel I will garner great satisfaction in being a participant.”
― W.A. Hoffman, Matelots

“As you always taught me, men who think have proven to be the most dangerous of all over the course of history," I said.
"So have you been a dangerous man?""
I laughed. "I would like to think so.”
― W.A. Hoffman, Brethren

“Every man I had seen who seemed brave in facing another's sword had been either desperate to obtain something or to escape something. I could not think of a single exception. If desperation was not involved, men fought with very clear heads, and there was little bravery about it: none was required because they did not choose to act unless the odds of success were well in their favor.”
― W.A. Hoffman, Matelots

“Lady, I know death will come but I avoid it because I can rationally foresee the devastation it will wreak upon my life. Yet after death, I will be beyond this mortal coil, and either in eternal pleasure or damnation. This thing that you do is worse than death, as it will leave me alive and in a perpetual state of agony. You may as well cast me into Hell.” She”
― W.A. Hoffman, Brethren