Michael J. Sullivan (author) Quotes

31 Sourced Quotes

Come for your revenge at last, elf?" Royce stepped forward. He looked down at Thranic and then around the room. "How could I top possibly top this? Sealed alive in a tomb of rock. My only regret is that I had nothing to do with it

Michael J. Sullivan
Power rises to the top like cream and dominates the weak with cruelty disguised as -- and often even believed to be -- benevolence.

Michael J. Sullivan
Right. And our first job is to teach her to give a speech on the Grand Balcony in three days. That does not sound too difficult. Has she done much public speaking? Amilia forced a smile. A week ago she said the word no.

Michael J. Sullivan
Happiness comes from moving toward something. When you run away, ofttimes you bring your misery with you.

Michael J. Sullivan
You didn't really hold back on Braga so Pickering could kill him, did you? Royce asked after the two were left alone in the hallway. Of course not. I held off because it's death for a commoner to kill a noble. That's what I thought. Royce sounded relieved. For a minute, I wondered if you'd gone from jumping on the good-deed wagon to leading the whole wagon train.

Michael J. Sullivan
And now she has you seizing control of my army. Your army? I thought this was Gaunt's. So did he.

Michael J. Sullivan
You accidentally punched him? Wyatt asked, suppressing a chuckle. I'm not sure you have a full understanding of the whole bodyguard thing.

Michael J. Sullivan
What's going on? Royce asked as throngs of people suddenly moved toward him from the field and the castle interior. I mentioned that you saw the thing and now they want to know what it looks like, Hadrian explained. What did you think? They were coming to lynch you? He shrugged. What can I say? I'm a glass-half-empty kinda guy. Half empty? Hadrian chuckled. Was there ever any drink in that glass?

Michael J. Sullivan
Hadrian leapt to his feet. Royce was already up. Don't bother, Esrahaddon told them. She's dead, and there's nothing you can do. The monster cannot be harmed by your weapons. It— The two were out the door.

Michael J. Sullivan
And I wish to thank you as well, Royce." He was puzzled. "For what?" "For reminding me that anyone, no matter what they've done, can find redemption if they seek it.

Michael J. Sullivan
If this hast been done to language, I fear to know the fate of all else.

Michael J. Sullivan
You're too visible, Albert, Hadrian explained. Can't afford to have our favorite noble hauled to some dungeon where they cut off your eyelids or pull off your fingernails until you tell them what we're up to. But if they torture me, and I don't know the plan, how will I save myself? I'm sure they'll believe you after the fourth nail or so, Royce said with a wicked grin.

Michael J. Sullivan
When you expect nothing from the world - not the light of the sun, the wet of water, nor the air to breathe - everything is a wonder and every moment a gift.

Michael J. Sullivan
Royce cast a harsh and anxious look at the prince. What? Alric asked. I thought we discussed the importance of keeping a low profile. Oh, please. The prince waved a hand at the thief. I don't think it will get me killed if this monk knows I'm the king. Look at him. I've seen drowned rats more formidable.

Michael J. Sullivan
See, that's the difference, Mauvin said. I suffer a loss and people console me. Royce suffers a loss and whole towns evacuate.

Michael J. Sullivan
It was a trap after all, Alric said. He turned to Royce. My apologies for doubting your sound paranoia.

Michael J. Sullivan
Aren't you going to say, I told you so? Hadrian whispered. What would be the point in that? Oh, so you're saying that you're going to hang on to this and throw it at me at some future, more personally beneficial moment? I don't see the point in wasting it now, do you?

Michael J. Sullivan
I need your help. Royce looked up as if his head weighed a hundred pounds, his eyes red, his face ashen. He waited. One last job, Hadrian told him, then added, I promise. Is it dangerous? Very. Is there a good chance I'll get killed? Odds are definitely in favor of that. Royce nodded, looked down at the scarf in his lap, and replied, Okay.

Michael J. Sullivan
You think you're a very clever fellow, don't you? Saldur challenged. No, Your Grace, Merrick replied. Clever is the man who makes a fortune selling dried-up cows, explaining how it saves the farmers the trouble of getting up every morning to milk them. I'm not clever—I'm a genius.

Michael J. Sullivan
Royce looked back down at the stream below. "She doesn't even know me. What if she doesn't like me? Few people do." "She might not at first. Maribor knows I didn't. But you have a way of growing on a person." He smiled. "You know, like lichen or mold.

Michael J. Sullivan
Hadrian drew two swords from his sides in a single elegant motion. He flipped one around letting it spin against his palm once. Need to get a new grip on this one. It's starting to fray again. He looked at Will. Shall we get on with this? I believe you were about to rob us.

Michael J. Sullivan
You think he's still alive? Royce asked, nodding his head toward Alric. Sure, Hadrian replied without bothering to look. He's probably sleeping. Why do you ask? I was just pondering something. Do you think a person could smother in a wet potato bag? Hadrian lifted his head and looked over at the motionless prince. I really hadn't thought about it until now.

Michael J. Sullivan
When you are so ashamed of your actions, thoughts, or intentions, you lie rather than accepting yourself for who you really are—or, in this case, pretend something happened when it didn't. The idea of how others see you becomes more important than the reality of you.

Michael J. Sullivan
You don't win battles with hate. Anger and hate can make you brave, make you strong, but they also make you stupid. You end up tripping over your own two feet. (Hadrian)

Michael J. Sullivan
As they climbed into their saddles, Myron bowed his head and muttered a soft prayer. There, Hadrian told Royce, we've got Maribor on our side. Now you can relax. Actually, Myron said sheepishly, I was praying for the horses. But I will pray for you as well, he added hastily.

Michael J. Sullivan
Any chance he's turned a new leaf and taken up sailing for real? About as likely as me doing it. Hadrian eyed Royce for a heartbeat. I put him at the top of the list.

Michael J. Sullivan
If this keeps up, we're going to own Melengar, Hadrian mentioned. What's this we stuff? Royce asked. You're retired, remember? Oh? So you'll be leading the Nationalist advance, will you? Sixty-forty? Royce proposed.

Michael J. Sullivan
One truth doesn't refute another. Truth doesn't lie in the object, but in how we see it.

Michael J. Sullivan
Will nodded toward Hadrian. Look at the swords he's carrying. A man wearing one—maybe he knows how to use it, maybe not. A man carries two—he probably don't know nothing about swords, but he wants you to think he does. But a man carrying three swords—that's a lot of weight. No one's gonna haul that much steel around unless he makes a living using them.

Michael J. Sullivan
Each killing steals a bit of humanity until a murderer is nothing more than an animal. A hunger replaces the spirit. A want for what was lost, but as with innocence, the soul can never be replaced. Joy, love, and peace flee such a vessel and in their stead blooms a desire for blood and death.

Michael J. Sullivan