Long John Silver Quotes

“It was Silver's voice, and before I had heard a dozen words, I would not have shown myself for all the world. I lay there, trembling and listening, in the extreme of fear and curiostiy, for, in those dozen words, I understood that the lives of all the honest men aboard depended on me alone.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island

“Ah, said Silver, it were fortunate for me that I had Hawkins here. You would have let old john be cut to bits, and never given it a thought, doctor.
'Not a thought,' replied Dr. Livesey cheerily.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island

“I'm cap'n here by 'lection. I'm cap'n here because I'm the best man by a long sea-mile. You won't fight, as gentlemen o' fortune should; then, by thunder, you'll obey, and you may lay to it! I like that boy, now; I never seen a better boy than that. He's more a man than any pair of rats of you in this here house, and what I say is this: let me see him that'll lay a hand on him--that's what I say, and you may lay to it.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island

“As I was waiting, a man came out of a side room, and at a glance I was sure he must be Long John. His left leg was cut off close by the hip, and under the left shoulder he carried a crutch, which he managed with wonderful dexterity, hopping about upon it like a bird. He was very tall and strong, with a face as big as a ham—plain and pale, but intelligent and smiling. Indeed, he seemed in the most cheerful spirits, whistling as he moved about among the tables, with a merry word or a slap on the shoulder for the more favoured of his guests.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island

“And he took another swallow of the brandy, shaking his great fair head like a man who looks forward to the worst.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island

“You may lay to that.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island

“And then, all of a sudden, he stopped, and his jaw dropped as though he had remembered something.
"The score!" he burst out. "Three goes o' rum! Why, shiver my timbers, if I hadn't forgotten my score!"
And, falling on a bench, he laughed until the tears ran down his cheeks. I could not help joining; and we laughed together, peal after peal, until the tavern rang again.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson

“Per uno come me, che viene chiamato nemico dell'umanità dal re e dal parlamento, o terrorista dai papisti, non è possibile invertire la rotta. Ci sono solo due vie, per chi vuole vivere da essere umano con qualche senso finché non muore. Una è mantenere la rotta. L'altra è farsi impiccare. Altri vie non esistono a meno che non ci si voglia nascondere per il resto dei propri giorni, costantemente preoccupati per la propria pelle, senza osare fidarsi di nessuno. L'amnistia, dirai tu. Ci sono i pirati che hanno approfittato dell'amnistia. Certo, dico io, ma che genere di vita hanno fatto poi? Sua Maestà può anche concedere l'amnistia e la grazia, è vero, ma lo fa la gente comune? E quelli che hanno i soldi?”
― Björn Larsson, La vera storia del pirata Long John Silver