David Gemmell Quotes

Nothing of real worth can ever be bought. Love, friendship, honour, valour, respect. All these things have to be earned.

Do not speak badly of yourself, for the warrior that is inside you hears your words and is lessened by them.

May all your dreams but one come true, for what is life without a dream?

Love is a mystery. We embrace it where we can. Mostly we do not choose whom we love. It just happens. A voice speaks to us, in ways the ears cannot hear. We recognize a beauty the eye does not see. We experience a change in our hearts that no voice can describe.

Man is capable of greatness, love, nobility, compassion. Yet never forget that his capacity for evil is infinite. It is a sad truth, boy, that if you sit now and think of the worst tortures that could ever be inflicted on another human being, they will already have been practiced somewhere. If there is one sound that follows the march of humanity, it is the scream.

A warrior feeds his body well; he trains it; works on it. Where he lacks knowledge, he studies. But above all he must believe. He must believe in his strength of will, of purpose, of heart and soul.

Some people have a gift for stupidity, an almost mystic ability to withstand any form of logic.

There's no shame in fear. But understand this - the coward is ruled by fear, while the hero rides it like a wild stallion.

Never violate a woman, nor harm a child. Do not lie, cheat or steal. These things are for lesser men. Protect the weak against the evil strong. And never allow thoughts of gain to lead you into the persuit of evil.

A man's strength is ultimately born of his knowledge of his own weakness.

I have discovered in my long life that there are many words and phrases which have more power than any spell of magick. The most well-known of these is, of course, I love you. But by far the most deadly is, if only. For these two words can strip a man's strength, his courage and his confidence. They become the father of regret and anguish and pain.

We make choices everyday, some of them good, some of them bad. And - if we are strong enough - we live with the consequences.

I make little distinction between those who commit evil and those who stand by and do nothing.

If there is one sound the follows the march of humanity, it is the scream.

Heroes are people who face down their fears. It is that simple. A child afraid of the dark who one day blows out the candle; a women terrified of the pain of childbirth who says, 'It is time to become a mother'. Heroism does not always live on the battlefield.

We are tiny flames, Helikaon, and we flicker alone in the great dark for no more than a heartbeat. When we strive for wealth, glory and fame, it is meaningless. The nations we fight for will one day cease to be. Even the mountains we gaze upon will crumble to dust. To truly live we must yearn for that which does not die.

Fear is an aid to the warrior. It is a small fire burning. It heats the muscles, making us stronger. Panic comes when the fire is out of control, consuming all courage and pride.

Trust your instincts, and make judgements on what your heart tells you. The heart will not betray you.

We all have scars [...] Better by far for them to be worn on the outside.

Every little bit of good I may do, let me do it now for I may not come this way again.

I may be stupid, as you say, to believe in honour and friendship and loyalty without price. But these are virtues to be cherished, for without them we are no more than beasts roaming the land.

I underestimated you, woman." ... "The cry of men down the ages.

Evil lives in a pit. If you want to fight it, you must climb down into the slime to do so. White cloaks show the dirt more thank black, and silver tarnishes.

I caught a pebble in the moonlight.

You may think life is sweet now, but when death is a heartbeat away then life becomes unbearably desirable. And when you survive, everything you do will be enhanced and filled with greater joy: the sunlight, the breeze, a good wine, a woman's lips, a child's laughter.