Austin Coates > Quotes

“Many, many others have promised to others what you are promising now to me. None has ever kept his word. This is a city of broken promises. I know it. I was born here. It may be that you will try to keep your promise. If it still pleases you to keep me here, I am sure you will. But this you must know. Though I might dearly love to, I would be a fool if I believed you. In Macao, we know this, that when the time comes it is always otherwise. Whatever words may have been said, whatever promises made, when an Englishman goes, it is alone.”
― Austin Coates, City of Broken Promises

“You come from another world. You descend like a god out of the sky. You reside and move about like a god--remote, aloof, with the other gods, your friends. What do you know of us who were born here and must live here? Who are you to say what is frightening to us? It is not the gods we are afraid of. It is our own people, whom none of you know.”
― Austin Coates, City of Broken Promises

“So little!" she sighed, trying to keep her eyes on the small black object gradually becoming engulfed in glittering movement. "But it is going far!" she went on with pride.”
― Austin Coates, City of Broken Promises