There is this, about being the sparring partner of the best swordsman in Caribastos. I always lost. But if ever I meet the third best swordsman in Caribastos, he’s going to be in very deep trouble.
It’s so obviously bogus, no one will look for a second layer of, er, bogusity.
And whose fault was it that the boy swallowed down lies, when no one would feed him the truth?
The Son held up his hands. Luminescent, they seemed, as if dappled by autumn sun reflecting off a stream into shade. “My grace flows from these as a river, wolf-lord. Would you have me dole it out in the exact measure that men earn, as from an apothecary’s dropper? Would you stand in pure water to your waist, and administer it by the scant spoon to men dying of thirst on a parched shore?
The book is not an object on the table; it is an event in the reader’s mind. It’s a process, through which an idea in my mind triggers an idea, more-or-less corresponding, in yours. The words on the page are merely the means to that end, a think-by-numbers set, a bottled daydream. The book, therefore, is only finished when someone reads it. – Sidelines.
Roic said nothing, firmly.
When the man arises who can make you laugh, solemn Ista, angry Ista, iron Ista, then will your heart be healed. You have not prayed for this: it’s a guerdon even the gods cannot give you. We are limited to such simples as redemption from your sins.
He who plots revenge must dig two graves.
Change is a function of time and experience, and time is implacable.
You want to be good. All right, I can understand that. But you have to be careful who you let define your good.
The problem has just suddenly become a lot more interesting. Er, difficult. It’s just become a bit more difficult.
Koudelka puzzled over this attempted readjustment of his point of view, then let it bounce harmlessly off his impermeable habits of thought.
It could be surprisingly hard to counter Plain Stupid. Even by heroic measures.
I know my limits.” “No one knows their limits till they’ve gone beyond them.
I’m sorry, Lady Vorkosigan. We’ll simply have to begin at the beginning. Please bear with me. Do I understand correctly you’ve had some sort of female trouble?” No, most of my troubles have been with males.
Guards, Miles now realized, had to stay in prison all day long too. Indeed, as a guard, one of his jobs was now to keep himself in.
So you’re saying that I could die at any moment!” “Yes. And this is different from your life yesterday in what way?” Umegat cocked his head in dry inquiry.
I expect you’ll be wading for the rest of your life,” Illyan answered seriously. “But every Komarran who follows you will have less crap to deal with, because of you.
You may have slandered an honest man. Or you may have struck a blow for justice. I don’t know. The point is... neither do you.
I’d have been a fool not to have thought of it, and a greater fool not to have thought better of it.