Quotes from Baptism of Fire

Andrzej Sapkowski ·  343 pages

Rating: (23.3K votes)


“Were I to attempt to be good to everyone, to the entire world and to all the creatures living in it, it would be a drop of fresh water in the salt sea. In other words, a wasted effort. Thus, I decided to do specific good; good which would not go to waste. I’m good to myself and my immediate circle.”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“- Kompania mi się trafiła - podjął Geralt, kręcąc głową. - Towarzysze broni! Drużyna bohaterów! Nic, tylko ręce załamać. Wierszokleta z lutnią. Dzikie i pyskate pół driady, pół baby. Wampir, któremu idzie na pięćdziesiąty krzyżyk. I cholerny Nilfgaardczyk, który upiera się, że nie jest Nilfgaardczykiem.
- A na czele drużyny wiedźmin, chory na wyrzuty sumienia, bezsiłę i niemożność podjęcia decyzji - dokończył spokojnie Regis. - Zaiste, proponuję podróżować incognito, by nie wzbudzać sensacji.
- I śmiechu - dodała Milva.”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“When there’s hunger you don’t share out your food, you just devour the weakest ones. This practice works among wolves, since it lets the healthiest and strongest individuals survive. But among sentient races selection of that kind usually allows the biggest bastards to survive and dominate the rest.”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“You surround the dead with veneration and memory, you dream of immortality, and in your myths and legends there’s always someone being resurrected, conquering death. But were your esteemed late great-grandfather really to suddenly rise from the grave and order a beer, panic would ensue.”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“What a company I ended up with,’ Geralt continued, shaking his head. ‘Brothers in arms! A team of heroes! What have I done to deserve it? A poetaster with a lute. A wild and lippy half-dryad, half-woman. A vampire, who’s about to notch up his fifth century. And a bloody Nilfgaardian who insists he isn’t a Nilfgaardian.”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire



“Life, it turns out, isn’t poetry! And do you know why? Because it’s so resistant to criticism!”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“- Ha - zaciekawił się Jaskier, który właśnie zbliżył się do nich. - Więc to są słynne tajne runy krasnoludów? Co głosi ten napis? - “Na pohybel skurwysynom!”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“Since when did you know anything about mimicking bird calls, Zoltan?’ ‘That’s the whole point. If you hear a strange, unrecognisable sound, you’ll know it’s me.”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“Cuando alguien me comunica que es apolítico, siempre pregunto en qué política concreta está pensando.”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“We enter the world as a minute part of the life we are given, and from then on we are ever paying off debts. To ourselves. For ourselves. In order for the final reckoning to tally.”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire



“- On tylko tak głupio wygląda - potwierdził Jaskier. - Ale cały czas liczę na to, że wreszcie zechce mu się wytężyć mózgownicę. Może wyciągnie słuszne wnioski? Może zrozumie, że jedyną czynnością, która dobrze wychodzi samotnym, jest samogwałt?”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“Everyone has some kind of debt. Such is life. Debts and liabilities, obligations, gratitude, payments, doing something for someone. Or perhaps for ourselves? For in fact we are always paying ourselves back and not someone else. Each time we are indebted we pay off the debt to ourselves. In each of us lies a creditor and a debtor at once and the art is for the reckoning to tally inside us. We enter the world as a minute part of the life we are given, and from then on we are ever paying off debts, To ourselves. For ourselves. In order for the final reckoning to tally.”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“I predict a bad end for your race, humans,' Zoltan Chivay said grimly. 'Every sentient creature on this earth, when it falls into want , poverty and misfortune, usually cleaves to his own. Because it's easier to survive the bad times in a group, helping one another. But you humans, you just wait for a chance to make money from other people's mishaps. When there's hunger you don't want want to share out your food, you just devour the weakest ones. The practice works among wolves, since it lets the healthiest and strongest individuals survive. But among sentient races selection of that kind usually allows the biggest bastards to survive and dominate the rest.”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“Adelante, adelante, al galope, por los caminos llenos de baches, por la verde hierba y los arbustos, por los charcos de plata, por la arena dorada y húmeda, por los alados helechos. El gamo asustado desaparece en el bosque, brilla al saltar la linterna blanquinegra de sus ancas. Se desprenden los pájaros de los árboles: los coloreados arrendajos y abejarucos, las chillonas y oscuras urracas de graciosas colas. El agua de los charcos y las grietas estalla en lluvia bajo los cascos del caballo.
¡Adelante, aún más adelante! El caballo, que había pateado indolente demasiado tiempo detrás del carro, lleva una carrera alegre, rápida, feliz, trota ligero, los músculos se mueven en los muslos, el flequillo húmedo deja caer gotas sobre la cara. El caballo estira el cuello, Ciri le da cuerda. ¡Adelante, caballito, no sientas el bocado ni el freno, adelante, al galope, al galope, deprisa, deprisa! ¡Primavera!”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“A baptism of fire, the Witcher thought, furiously striking and parrying blows. I was meant to pass through fire for Ciri. And I'm passing through fire in a battle which is of no interest to me at all. Which I don't understand in any way. The fire that was meant to purify me is just scorching my hair and face.”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire



“In each of us lies a creditor and a debtor at once and the art is for the reckoning to tally inside us. We enter the world as a minute part of the life we are given, and from then on we are ever paying off debts. To ourselves. For ourselves. In order for the final reckoning to tally.’ ‘Is”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“The bounty hunter looked at him long and hard. Until Tawny Owl's smirk finally vanished. 'Indeed,' he said. 'Everyone has to make a living. Some earn money doing what they've learned. Others do what they have to. But not many craftsmen have been as lucky in life as I am: they pay me for a trade I truly and honestly enjoy. Not even whores can say that.”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“La tua spedizione ha un fine personale e privato, anzi è il carattere di questo fine a richiedere che tu lo realizzi da solo, personalmente. Il rischio, la minaccia, la fatica, la lotta con la disperazione devono gravare solo ed esclusivamente su di te. Perché fanno parte della penitenza e del riscatto della colpa che stai perseguendo. Una sorta di battesimo del fuoco direi. Passerai attraverso il fuoco, che brucia ma al tempo stesso purifica.”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“Sono un discendente di quelle disgraziate creatre rimaste prigioniere tra di voi dopo il cataclisma che chiamate congiunzione delle sfere. Per usare un'espressione delicata passo per essere un mostro. Un mostro sanguinario.”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“It’s all they ever have on their minds! It starts off brainy, but always comes back to humping!”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire



“You also ought to know that mandrake is a powerful aphrodisiac and is used in love magic, particularly to break down female resistance. That’s the explanation of mandrake’s folk name: love apple. It’s a herb used to pander lovers.’ ‘Blockhead,’ Milva commented. ‘And”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“Forgive me,’ he said a moment later. ‘You’re right. I put you at risk. It was too dangerous a task for a—’ ‘For a woman, you mean?’ she said, jerking her head back, flicking her still wet hair from her shoulder with a sudden movement. ‘Is that what you were going to say? Are you playing the gentleman all of a sudden? I may have to squat to piss, but my coat is lined with wolf skin, not coney fur! Don’t call me a coward, because you don’t know me!”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“Advice is superfluous to you, allies are superfluous, you’ll get by without any travelling companions. The goal of your expedition is, after all, personal and private. More than that, the nature of the goal demands that you accomplish it alone, in person. The risks, dangers, hardships and constant struggle with doubt must only burden you. For, after all, they are components of the penance, the expiation of guilt you want to earn. A baptism of fire, I’d say. You’ll pass through fire, which burns, but also purges. And you’ll do it alone. For were someone to support you in this, help you, take on even a scrap of that baptism of fire, that pain, that penance, they would, by the same token, impoverish you. They would deprive you of part of the expiation you desire, which would be owed to them for their involvement. After all, it should be your exclusive expiation. Only you have a debt to pay off, and you don’t want to run up debts with other creditors at the same time. Is my logic correct?”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“The hell with all of you, you cooperative fellowship of idiots, united by a common goal which none of you understand. And the hell with me too.’ This time the others, following Cahir’s example, also remained tactfully silent. Dandelion, Maria Barring, also known as Milva, and Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy. ‘What a company I ended up with,’ Geralt continued, shaking his head. ‘Brothers in arms! A team of heroes! What have I done to deserve it? A poetaster with a lute. A wild and lippy half-dryad, half-woman. A vampire, who’s about to notch up his fifth century. And a bloody Nilfgaardian who insists he isn’t a Nilfgaardian.’ ‘And”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“I predict a bad end for your race, humans,’ Zoltan Chivay said grimly. ‘Every sentient creature on this earth, when it falls into want, poverty and misfortune, usually cleaves to his own. Because it’s easier to survive the bad times in a group, helping one another. But you, humans, you just wait for a chance to make money from other people’s mishaps.”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire



“Like all cats, they could see what was invisible and could not be deceived by a simple spell. ‘This parade”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“We’ll do a bit of reconnaissance. If it’s safe, I’ll make a call like a sparrow hawk.’ ‘Like a sparrow hawk?’ said Munro Bruys, anxiously moving his chin. ‘Since when did you know anything about mimicking bird calls, Zoltan?’ ‘That’s the whole point. If you hear a strange, unrecognisable sound, you’ll know it’s me.”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“Everyone has some kind of debt,’ replied Eithné. ‘Such is life, Maria Barring. Debts and liabilities, obligations, gratitude, payments… Doing something for someone. Or perhaps for ourselves? For in fact we are always paying ourselves back and not someone else. Each time we are indebted we pay off the debt to ourselves. In each of us lies a creditor and a debtor at once and the art is for the reckoning to tally inside us.”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“Страховете изпълняват не по-малка роля в психиката на човека, отколкото всички останали емоционални състояния. Психиката, лишена от страх, би била увредена”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire


“Everyone has some kind of debt,’ replied Eithné. ‘Such is life, Maria Barring. Debts and liabilities, obligations, gratitude, payments… Doing something for someone. Or perhaps for ourselves? For in fact we are always paying ourselves back and not someone else. Each time we are indebted we pay off the debt to ourselves. In each of us lies a creditor and a debtor at once and the art is for the reckoning to tally inside us. We enter the world as a minute part of the life we are given, and from then on we are ever paying off debts. To ourselves. For ourselves. In order for the final reckoning to tally.”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, quote from Baptism of Fire



About the author

Andrzej Sapkowski
Born place: in Łódź, Poland
Born date June 21, 1948
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