Lois McMaster Bujold Quotes

226 Sourced Quotes

If the truth doesn't save us, what does that say about us?

Lois McMaster Bujold
If suspicion was the deadliest possible insult, then trust was always right, even if it was mistaken.

Lois McMaster Bujold
The principal difference between heaven and hell is the company you keep there.

Lois McMaster Bujold
"Is this guy for real?"
"He thinks he's faking it, but he's not."

Lois McMaster Bujold
From fried witchetty grubs to gold-plated turnips, when you're a writer you never know what's going to appear on your plate next. It keeps a woman alert, it does.

Lois McMaster Bujold
Think of the glory. Think of your reputation. Think how great it'll look on your next resume." On my cenotaph, you mean. Nobody will be able to collect enough of my scattered atoms to bury. You going to cover my funeral expenses, son?" Splendidly. Banners, dancing girls, and enough beer to float your coffin to Valhalla." - Miles coaxing Ky Tung to agree to an almost suicidal mission

Lois McMaster Bujold
I am an atheist, myself. A simple faith, but a great comfort to me, in these last days.

Lois McMaster Bujold
It's... a transcendental act. Making life. I thought about that when I was carrying Miles. 'By this act, I bring one death into the world.' One birth, one death, and all the pain and acts of will between.

Lois McMaster Bujold
The gods' most savage curses come upon us as answers to our own prayers, you know.

Lois McMaster Bujold
Ignorance is not stupidity, but it might as well be.

Lois McMaster Bujold
Now there's this about cynicism, Sergeant. It's the universe's most supine moral position. Real comfortable. If nothing can be done, then you're not some kind of shit for not doing it, and you can lie there and stink to yourself in perfect peace.

Lois McMaster Bujold
Vorreedi stated dangerously, "I am not a mushroom, Lieutenant Vorkosigan."
To be kept in the dark and fed on horseshit, right. Miles sighed inwardly.

Lois McMaster Bujold
How could I have died and gone to hell without noticing the transition?

Lois McMaster Bujold
I'm sorry. I can love you. I can grieve for you, or with you. I can share your pain. But I cannot judge you.

Lois McMaster Bujold
Miles cursed himself silently, then out loud. He really had to try to cultivate a more normal attitude toward senior officers.... When a normal ensign looked at his commander, he ought to see a god-like being, not a, a... future subordinate.

Lois McMaster Bujold
How could you be a Great Man if history brought you no Great Events, or brought you to them at the wrong time, too young, too old?

Lois McMaster Bujold
I've described my usual writing process as scrambling from peak to peak on inspiration through foggy valleys of despised logic. Inspiration is better — when you can get it.

Lois McMaster Bujold
I have a catchphrase to describe my plot-generation technique — "What's the worst possible thing I can do to these people?"

Lois McMaster Bujold
With all this manure around, there's got to be a pony someplace.

Lois McMaster Bujold
Leadership is mostly a power over imagination, and never more so than in combat. The bravest man alone can only be an armed lunatic. The real strength lies in the ability to get others to do your work.

Lois McMaster Bujold
If you're trying to take a roomful of people by surprise, it's a lot easier to hit your targets if you don't yell going through the door.

Lois McMaster Bujold
The good face pain. But the great — they embrace it.

Lois McMaster Bujold
When you can see the colors of the feathers, you'll also understand how you can expand your borders to infinity.

Lois McMaster Bujold
I'm just dazzled by the glittering tinsel of neo-fascism.

Lois McMaster Bujold
Since no one is perfect, it follows that all great deeds have been accomplished out of imperfection.

Lois McMaster Bujold
It is always easier to get forgiveness than permission.

Lois McMaster Bujold
Home is where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.

Lois McMaster Bujold
He gave me no sign. I was never the sort to receive portents, or to delude myself that I had. Silence was always my portion, in return for my prayers.

Lois McMaster Bujold
Taura nailed it. She'll do for m'lord, all right. And God help their enemies.

Lois McMaster Bujold
I don't duel, boy. I kill as a soldier kills, which is as a butcher kills, as quickly, efficiently, and with as least risk to myself as I can arrange. If I decide you die, you will die when I choose, where I choose, by what means I choose, and you will never see the blow coming. (...)
I don't duel. But if you seek to die like a bludgeoned steer, cross me again.

Lois McMaster Bujold