Quotes from Captain Alatriste

“No era el hombre más honesto ni el más piadoso, pero era un hombre valiente.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“It was one of Diego Alatriste's virtues that he could make friends in Hell.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“The men buckled on their weapons and started outside amid high expectations, taking care not to leave their backs unguarded -- just in case -- for Jesus may have said something about brothers, but he made no mention of cousins.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“—Así podrá instruirse y estudiar leyes para sangrar de su último maravedí a los pleiteantes; como hacen vuestras mercedes los abogados, escribanos y otras gentes de mal vivir.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“Imaginad el cuadro: sería vuestra merced tan amable de venir a la luz y destocarse, caballero, gracias, veo que sois el más rubio, permitid que os introduzca una cuarta de acero toledano en los higadillos.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“A ese tiempo infame lo llaman siglo de Oro. Mas lo cierto es que, quienes lo vivimos y sufrimos, de oro vimos poco; y de plata, la justa. Sacrificio estéril, gloriosas derrotas, corrupción, picaresca, miseria y poca vergüenza, de eso sí que tuvimos a espuertas. Lo que pasa es que luego uno va y mira un cuadro de Diego Velázquez, oye unos versos de Lope o de Calderón, lee un soneto de don Francisco de Quevedo, y se dice que bueno, que tal vez mereció la pena.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“Una de aquellas sonrisas hechas de esa lucidez y esa mirada penetrante que en las mujeres constituye exclusivo patrimonio; fruto de siglos y siglos de ver, en silencio, a los hombres cometiendo toda suerte de estupideces”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“El capitán, seguro de no resistir mucho rato frente a cinco hombres armados y diestros en el oficio, decidió no andarse con lindezas de esgrima, y en vez de curar su salud procuró desbaratar la de sus enemigos.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“Quizás los malvados se cansan tanto como los corazones leales, pensé un instante. A fin de cuentas, nadie elige su destino.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“viva España y demás, y angelitos al cielo o a donde tocara ir.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“—Una cosa es una cosa, y otra cosa es otra cosa.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“que tú haría un viaje largo, muy lejos... Y sepas lo que sepas, no lo cuentes ni bajo confesión. Si de esto se entera un cura, cuelga los hábitos, vende el secreto y se hace rico.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“Mantenerse vivo, descubrí durante esos días, da muchas más fatigas que dejarse morir,”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“por mucho que nuble, la sombra siempre termina despuntando cosida a los pies de uno. Y nadie puede escapar de su propia sombra.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“Tal vez su condición de viejo soldado —había peleado en Flandes y el Mediterráneo tras escapar de la escuela para alistarse como paje y tambor a los trece años— dejó impresa en él aquella manera tan suya de encajar el riesgo, los malos tragos, las incertidumbres y sinsabores de una vida bronca, difícil, con el estoicismo de quien se acostumbra a no esperar otra cosa.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“No quedaba más remedio que jugar la partida con las nueve cartas que el burlón destino acababa de ponerle en las manos, aunque éstas fueran pésimas.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“Cuerpo a cuerpo he de matalle donde Sevilla lo vea, en la plaza o en la calle; que al que mata y no pelea nadie puede disculpalle; y gana más el que muere a traición, que el que le mata.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“Cualquier hombre cabal puede escoger la forma y el lugar donde morir, pero nadie elige las cosas que recuerda.

Capitán Alatriste”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“—¿Tanta importancia dais al valor? —A veces es lo único que queda —respondió con sencillez el capitán—. Sobre todo en tiempos como éstos, cuando hasta las banderas y el nombre de Dios sirven para hacer negocio.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“establecimientos públicos de moral relajada o equívoca, que en aquella España paradójica, singular e irrepetible, se veían tan frecuentados como las iglesias, y a menudo por la misma gente.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“En aquel tiempo, cualquier cosa (...) podía ser comprada con dinero; hasta las conciencias. Tampoco es que hayamos cambiado mucho desde entonces.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

“A fin de cuentas, se consoló, por mucho que duela y tardes en morir, al final siempre te mueres. Y quien muere, descansa.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, quote from Captain Alatriste

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“So initiate us," Claire said, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes in challenge. "Make us priests and priestesses of Apollo."

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― Angie Sage, quote from Magyk

“Clay, did you ever love me?"
I'm studying a billboard and say that I didn't hear what she said.
"I asked if you ever loved me?"
On the terrace the sun bursts into my eyes and for one blinding moment I see myself clearly. I remember the first time we made love, in the house in Palm Springs, her body tan and wet, lying against cool, white sheets.
"Don't do this, Blair," I tell her.
"Just tell me."
I don't say anything.
"Is it such a hard question to answer?"
I look at her straight on.
"Yes or no?"
"Why?"
"Damnit, Clay," she sighs.
"Yeah, sure, I guess."
"Don't lie to me."
"What in the fuck do you want to hear?"
"Just tell me," she says, her voice rising.
"No," I almost shout. "I never did." I almost start to laugh.
She draws in a breath and says, "Thank you. That's all I wanted to know." She sips her wine.
"Did you ever love me?" I ask her back, though by now I can't even care.
She pauses. "I thought about it and yeah, I did once. I mean I really did. Everything was all right for a while. You were kind." She looks down and then goes on. "But it was like you weren't there. Oh shit, this isn't going to make any sense." She stops.
I look at her, waiting for her to go on, looking up at the billboard. Disappear Here.
"I don't know if any other person I've been with has been really there, either ... but at least they tried."
I finger the menu; put the cigarette out.
"You never did. Other people made an effort and you just ... It was just beyond you." She takes another sip of her wine. "You were never there. I felt sorry for you for a little while, but then I found it hard to. You're a beautiful boy, Clay, but that's about it."
I watch the cars pass by on Sunset.
"It's hard to feel sorry for someone who doesn't care."
"Yeah?" I ask.
"What do you care about? What makes you happy?"
"Nothing. Nothing makes me happy. I like nothing," I tell her.
"Did you ever care about me, Clay?"
I don't say anything, look back at the menu.
"Did you ever care about me?" she asks again.
"I don't want to care. If I care about things, it'll just be worse, it'll just be another thing to worry about. It's less painful if I don't care."
"I cared about you for a little while."
I don't say anything.
She takes off her sunglasses and finally says, "I'll see you later, Clay." She gets up.
"Where are you going?" I suddenly don't want to leave Blair here. I almost want to take her back with me.
"Have to meet someone for lunch."
"But what about us?"
"What about us?" She stands there for a moment, waiting. I keep staring at the billboard until it begins to blur and when my vision becomes clearer I watch as Blair's car glides out of the parking lot and becomes lost in the haze of traffic on Sunset. The waiter comes over and asks, "Is everything okay, sir?"
I look up and put my sunglasses on and try to smile. "Yeah.”
― Bret Easton Ellis, quote from Less Than Zero

“Спи по-малко, храни се по-малко и по-малко се смее. Мрак се е промъкнал и в собствения му живот — сякаш гледа света през същия поляризиран филтър — и той се улавя, че няма нищо против. Приглушената светлина не дразни очите.”
― Stephen King, quote from Dreamcatcher

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