Brian McClellan > Quotes

“You’ve one mark on your record,” Tamas said. “You once punched a na-baron in the face. Broke his jaw. Tell me about that.”
Olem grimaced. “Officially, sir, I was pushing him out of the way of a runaway carriage. Saved his life. Half my company saw it.”
“With your fist?”
“Aye.”
“And unofficially?”
“The man was a git. He shot my dog because it startled his horse.”
“And if I ever have cause to shoot your dog?”
“I’ll punch you in the face.”
“Fair enough. You have the job.”
― Brian McClellan, Promise of Blood

“Doctor, what could you prescribe for Charlemund?”
The doctor looked down his nose at the unconscious form of the arch-diocel.
“Arsenic?”
“Now, really. Something to give him a quality headache and a great deal of memory loss.”
“Cyanide.”
― Brian McClellan, Promise of Blood

“The age of kings is dead, Adamat, and I have killed it.”
― Brian McClellan, Promise of Blood

“I would die for my country. But I’d rather kill for it. Ready your troops. We march!”
― Brian McClellan, The Autumn Republic

“You missed the morning’s festivities,” Bo said to Adamat. “You call torturing a man ‘festivities’?” Adamat asked. “I’m not a good person,” Bo said.”
― Brian McClellan, The Crimson Campaign

“Even if you are a pompous ass with no respect for authority, you're worth fifty men, and I mean to see you in my army."

"That was an incredibly backhanded compliment."

"I meant every word.”
― Brian McClellan, The Crimson Campaign

“The world is changing. People do not exist to serve their governments or their kings. Governments exist to serve the people, so the people should have a say in those governments.”
― Brian McClellan, Promise of Blood

“I’m an investigator, my dear. Other people’s business is my business.”
― Brian McClellan, Promise of Blood

“First rule of bathing,” Gavril said. “If you can’t smell yourself anymore, it’s time to wash.”
― Brian McClellan, The Crimson Campaign

“Don’t trust any man who surrounds himself with beautiful women. Least of all a priest.”
― Brian McClellan, Promise of Blood

“One man always makes a difference. Sometimes it’s a small one. Other times, he tips a war.”
― Brian McClellan, The Crimson Campaign

“When a man solved his problems by punching them, books were often a foreign thing.”
― Brian McClellan, Promise of Blood

“You seem to be in unusually good spirits.” “I do?” Tamas said. “I haven’t said two words.” Prime cleared his throat. “I can sense it about you. It’s in the air. Like a first-year student who knows he’s going to be every professor’s favorite. It’s annoying.”
― Brian McClellan, Promise of Blood

“I have the feeling you would much rather be on the front than in Adopest trying to win over the snakes in politics. At least here you’re allowed to shoot your enemies.”
― Brian McClellan, The Crimson Campaign

“Let the Kez come,” Tamas roared. “Let them send their greatest generals after us. Let them stack the odds against us. Let them come upon us with all their fury, because these hounds at our heels will soon know we are lions!”
― Brian McClellan, The Crimson Campaign

“And there, among the ruined splendor of Skyline Palace, Adamat saw a god weep for the hero of Adro.”
― Brian McClellan, The Autumn Republic

“I’ve met dozens of officers who think their immaculate mustache can move the world.”
― Brian McClellan, The Autumn Republic

“There is nothing that will make a man more desperate and more capable of violence than endangering his family.”
― Brian McClellan, The Crimson Campaign

“A king’s pride doesn’t fill the people’s bellies.”
― Brian McClellan, Promise of Blood

“Take all that hate and anger and ball it up and put it away. Don’t chew on it—that just makes you bitter. Put it aside and use it as a reminder of why you never want to be helpless again. Take your weakness and make it your strength.”
― Brian McClellan, The Autumn Republic

“Styke's people were outnumbered two to one. The Dynize, he decided, should have brought more men.”
― Brian McClellan, Sins of Empire

“Not knowing one’s weaknesses gets people killed.”
― Brian McClellan, The Autumn Republic

“For Dad For never being hesitant that I’d make it this far. Even when you should have been.”
― Brian McClellan, Promise of Blood

“The people are hungry,” Mihali said. He lifted his hands, spreading them to encompass the city. “The people need to be fed. They need bread and wine and soup and meat. But not just that. They need friendship.” He pointed to a minor noble, some viscount decked out in his finest foppish frills, who poured a bottle of St. Adom’s Festival wine into the cups of a half-dozen street urchins.
“They need companionship,” Mihali said. “They need love and brotherhood.” He turned to Tamas. He reached out with one hand, putting a palm to Tamas’s cheek. Instinct told Tamas to step back. He found that he couldn’t.
“You gorged them on the blood of the nobility,” Mihali said gently. “They drank, but were not filled. They ate of hatred and grew hungrier.” He took a deep breath. “Your intentions were… well, not pure, but just. Justice is never enough.” He let go of Tamas and turned to the square. “I will put things right,” he said. He puffed out his chest and spread his arms. “I will feed all of Adro. It is what they need.”
― Brian McClellan, Promise of Blood

“God' is a funny word, it implies omnipotence and omniscience. Let me assure, I am neither.”
― Brian McClellan, The Crimson Campaign

“At what point have you ever gotten the impression that there are good people in the royal cabal?"

"You've given me that impression. Yes. You have."

"Well, get past it. Because I'm not a good man. Not in the slightest. I just pay my debts.”
― Brian McClellan, The Crimson Campaign

“Always ask why. It’s not enough to know the what of something.”
― Brian McClellan, The Autumn Republic

“The problem with logic,” Prime said, “is that sometimes you are forced to believe your own hypothesis, even if you don’t want”
― Brian McClellan, Promise of Blood

“But there were some wounds you could ask an old soldier about and others you had to wait for him to tell.”
― Brian McClellan, Sins of Empire

“The lockpick gaped up at Adamat from his knees. “You’re making enough noise, you might as well have knocked on the front door,” Adamat said.”
― Brian McClellan, Promise of Blood