Quotes from Patient Zero

“I’m not sure I could trust a man who would bypass an Oreo in favor of vanilla wafers. It’s a fundamental character flaw, possibly a sign of true evil.”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“When you have to kill the same terrorist twice in one week, then there's either something wrong with your skills or something wrong with your world.
And there's nothing wrong with my skills.”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“I don’t want to kill you and you don’t want to be dead.”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“There were more of them out there. More walkers. And I was being asked to step up and be... what? Some kind of Captain Heroism who would lead the boys in the Red, White, and Blue to victory? What was I getting myself into? This wasn't task force duty, this wasn't even SWAT-team level. I'd never even smelled anything this big before and now I was expected to train and lead a black ops team? How frigging insane was this? Why were they asking me? I'm just a cop. Where are the guys who actually do this for a living? How come none of them were here? Where's James Bond and Jack Bauer? Why me, of all people?”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“...as of this moment there's the police department way, the federal law enforcement way, the military way... and my way. If you want me to function at my best then you're going to have to accept that I'm going to have to make up some of my own rules. I don't know enough about your playbook and, quite frankly, I don't like the way you operate. If I'm not a cop anymore then I'm something else, something new. Okay, then from here on out I'll decide what that is; and that includes building, shaping, and leading my team. My team, my rules.”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“I did not and do not want my life tied up in cloak-and-dagger bullshit, dead guys, or pissing contests with either the testosterone crowd in there or some prissy-assed Earl Grey-drinking, scone-munching major who isn't even my freaking boss. I don't know you and I don't give a rat's ass if you trust me.”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“There are also several notes in your file suggesting that you are a world-class smartass.” “Really? You mean I made it through the nationals?” “And you apparently think you’re hilarious.” “You’re saying I’m not?”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer. –RALPH WALDO EMERSON”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“-Estan marcados- dije-. Esto es de lo que tú hablabas. Sus rostros, sus miradas. Eso nunca va a desaparecer. La violencia siempre deja marca”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“Then this other guy, the thirteenth guy, comes crashing right into me. Even with all that was going on I thought, Drug addict. He was pale and sweaty, stank like raw sewage, and had a glazed bug-eyed stare. Sick bastard even tried to bite me, but”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“[Therapist and friend, with a voice like Raul Julia during his Gomez Adam’s days] Rudy studied my face, “I have a two o’clock open on Tuesday.”
I sighed, “Yeah, ok. Tuesday at two.”
He nodded, pleased. “Bring Starbucks.”
“Sure, what do you want?”
“My usual. Iced half-caf ristretto quad grade two-pump raspberry two percent no whip light ice with caramel drizzle three-and-a-half-pump white mocha.”
“Is any of that actually coffee?”
“More or less.”
“And you think I’m damaged …”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“I’d put two .45 slugs in him from fifteen feet. Pretty much does the trick. If it doesn’t then your only logical ammunition upgrade is Kryptonite. But”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“I’m self-aware enough to know that I have a somewhat fractured personality. Not exactly multiple personality disorder, but clearly there were different drivers at the wheel depending on my mood, and depending on my needs. Over”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“I could feel the shakes starting to come back, so I washed my face, rinsed my mouth out with handfuls of tap water, pasted on my best I-didn’t-just-kill-a-zombie expression, and left with my coffee.”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“What’s with the shorts?” “There’s a new fitness trainer. Jamaican gal . . . tall, gorgeous.” “And . . . ?” “Bike shorts show off my package.” “Jesus Christ.” “Jealousy is an ugly thing, Joe.” “Get in the fucking car.”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“Holy Christ . . . are we talking zombies here?” Church smiled faintly. “We’re calling him a ‘walker.’ Short for ‘Dead Man Walking.’ The head of my science team has too much of a pop culture sensibility.”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“«La humanidad es lo primero. Siempre. La política y la religión, aunque valiosas, tienen una importancia secundaria. Si no trabajamos juntos para conservar la vida, para dignificarla y mantenerla fuera de peligro, entonces no tenemos nada por lo que luchar».”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“Look, cowboy, I know how tough you are...but believe me when I tell you that nobody is that tough. A complete separation from your feelings is not proof of manly strength...it's a big glaring neon warning sign. I know you think you called me today to ask my opinion as a pal and as a medical doctor, but I have to believe that you're reaching out for support for what you've been through. As far as this thing with Javad and Mr. Church goes...well, if you were capable of simply shrugging that off with no traumatic effects then I would either be afraid of you or afraid for you.”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“He's a son of a bitch, but he's our son of a bitch. ~ FDR”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“The four of them stared at me. Half an hour ago we were strangers and I was beating the crap out of them; now I was supposed to lead them on an urban infiltration mission against unknown odds and, very likely, plague-carrying walking corpses.”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“I don't do martial arts for trophies or for fun. I'm a fighter, and I train to win any fight I'm in. I don't believe in rules and I don't believe in fair fights. You want a fair fight, join a boxing club. I also don't believe in dying for my country. I have a kind of General Patton take on that: I think the other guy should die for his.”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“I need sonsabitches that can hit hard, hit fast, and hit last.”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“No lloré por eso. Cada año mueren millones de personas. Puedo sentir compasión, pero ninguna pena personal. Como ocurre en el seno de una comunidad cuando un niño se cae en un pozo. Dos meses más tarde nadie se acuerda del nombre del niño. Tu vida no gira en torno a ese momento. No puede, porque si convertimos la muerte de cada persona en algo personal nos mataría a todos. Pero esto… esto es un momento que te cambia la vida de verdad. Igual que a ti.”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“Mira, no voy a señalar con el dedo a ningún país, ninguna religión ni partido político. Esto es un fallo en todas las especies. Nosotros, la raza humana, hemos cometido un pecado terrible e imperdonable. Y antes de que nos avergüences a ambos preguntando… no, no estoy teniendo un momento católico. Esto es mucho más fundamental que la Iglesia o el Estado. Esto es algo propio porque lo conocemos mejor. Como especie, lo conocemos mejor. Entendemos lo que está bien y lo que está mal, igual que podemos captar todos los tonos de gris. Hemos tenido miles de años de líderes religiosos, filósofos, pensadores libres y científicos políticos que han explicado la causa y el efecto del comportamiento destructivo. Uno podría pensar que, a estas alturas, en el momento en que estamos, con todos estos avances tecnológicos y ahora que la comunicación entre todas las razas no solo es posible, sino instantánea a nivel mundial, que habríamos aprendido algo, que nos habríamos beneficiado de los errores cometidos anteriormente. Uno podría pensar que nuestro criterio ha evolucionado y que somos más sagaces. Pero no es así. Con la simulación por ordenador prácticamente podemos ver el futuro y ver cómo será todo si seguimos estos caminos y, aun así, no hacemos nada para cambiar de dirección. Quizá el verdadero defecto humano sea nuestra incapacidad para actuar como si la próxima generación importase. Nunca lo hemos hecho. Quizá de manera individual sí, pero no como una nación, como una especie.”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“—Eso es poco probable —le aseguró Gault—. Dependo del Guerrero para dar el golpe maestro; pero un asalto a la planta probablemente sirva para crear ambiente… y después todo irá exactamente como nosotros queremos. Ella frunció el ceño y se mordió el labio mientras valoraba todo aquello. Gault sabía que estaba barajando distintos resultados basándose en lo que sabía… a lo que él le había permitido saber. Llegaría a conclusiones muy lógicas y todas serían acertadas; pero incompletas, lo cual estaba bien.”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“Denial is stupid. We're fighting the living dead. Would you prefer we call them 'undead citizens'?”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

“—Ahora ve despacio, chico. A la naturaleza no le gustan las prisas. —Sí, padre”
― Jonathan Maberry, quote from Patient Zero

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Popular quotes

“All those rhythms, all those songs, all those wonderful glorious magnificent voices inside her began to sing.”
― Damian Wampler, quote from Sevara: Dawn of Hope

“The next morning we reach the Cilician Gates, and look out over one of the most beautiful views I know. It is like standing on the rim of the world and looking down on the promised land, and one feels much as Moses must have felt. For here, too, there is no entering in. ... The soft, hazy dark blue loveliness is a land one will never reach; the actual towns and villages when one gets there will be only the ordinary everyday world—not this enchanted beauty that beckons you down.”
― quote from Come, Tell Me How You Live

“Speaking of shabby looks, we're going to have to give you a haircut soon.
...WHAT?
These feathers are getting messy.
LET ME UNDERSTAND THIS CORRECTLY. YOU WISH TO CUT MY MANE?
Thunder tigers grow manes?
OF COURSE! HOW ELSE WOULD YOU TELL MALES FROM FEMALES?
This is a trick question, right?
A MANE IS A SIGN A MALE ARASHITORA HAS REACHED MATURITY.
Her laughter rang out in his mind.
So it's going to be a few more decades growing, then?
HMPH. I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW MOST FEMALES FIND IT FETCHING.”
― Jay Kristoff, quote from Endsinger

“When Jesus died on the cross the mercy of God did not become any greater. It could not become any greater, for it was already infinite. We get the odd notion that God is showing mercy because Jesus died. No--Jesus died because God is showing mercy. It was the mercy of God that gave us Calvary, not Calvary that gave us mercy. If God had not been merciful there would have been no incarnation, no babe in the manger, no man on a cross and no open tomb.”
― A.W. Tozer, quote from The Attributes of God: A Journey Into the Father's Heart

“Monty küçük tuvaletin kapısını kilitleyip, klozetin kapalı kapağının üstüne oturdu. Biri tuvalet kağıdı rulosunun takılı olduğu plastiğin üzerine, cehenneme kadar yolunuz var, yazmıştı. Kesinlikle diye düşündü o da. Ama senin de cehenneme kadar yolun var. Herkesin. Kapıdaki Fransız kadının, şarap içerek yemek yiyenlerin, siparişleri alan garsonların, hepinizin canı cehenneme. Bu kentin ve içindeki herkesin canı cehenneme. Sokak köşelerinde sırıtarak dilenen serserilerin, türbanlı Sihlerin, sarı taksileriyle birbiriyle yarışan yıkanmak bilmez Pakistanlıların da. Göğüs kıllarını alıp, memelerini büyüten Chelsea'li ibnelerin de. Hepsinin canı cehenneme. Aşırı pahalı meyvelerinden piramitler yapan Koreli manavların, onların plastik ambalajlara sarılı lale ve güllerinin de. Beşinci Cadde'de sahte Gucci satan beyaz cübbeli Nijeryalıların da. Brighton Sahili'nde küp şekerleri dişlerinin arasında tutarak çaylarını cam bardaklardan içen Rusların da. Hepsinin canları cehenneme. 47. Cadde'de elmas satan şapkalı, kirli gabardin takımlı, Mesih'in gelmesini beklerken sürekli para sayıp duran Yahudilerin de. Sokaklarda sürtenlerin, yaşlıların ve de spastiklerin de. Kendini beğenmiş, metrolarda sürekli gazete okuyan, kolonya sürünmüş Wall Street borsacılarının da. Hepsinin canı cehenneme. Washington Square Park'ta, bellerinden cüzdan zincirleri sarkan patenli punkçıların, her yere bayrak asan, otomobillerinin açık camlardan dinledikleri müziği bangır bangır herkese dinleten Porto Rikoluların da. Naylon eşofmanları ve St. Anthony madalyonlarıyla gezip, saçlarına durmadan briyantin süren Bensonhurst İtalyanlarının da. Enginarı Balducci'den, eşarbı Hermes'ten alan, büzük dudaklı, asık suratlı ev kadınlarının da. Asla pas vermeyi bilmeyen, savunma yapmayan, her turnikeye girişte bir adım fazladan atan varoş çocuklarının da. Babaları Tokyo'ya iş gezisine giderken mutfakta oturup esrar çeken okullu uyuşturucu müptelalarının da. Mavi giysileri içinde kabadayılık taslayarak dolaşan, kalın enseli, Krispy Kreme'e giderken bile kırmızı ışığı takmayan polislerin de. Knicks'in, Indiana'ya karşı oyunu nedeniyle Patrick Ewing'in, Charles Smith ve onun Chicago maçındaki başarısız uzaktan atışlarının, John Starks'ın Houston maçındaki korkunç şutlarının da canı cehenneme. Jordan'ı hiç yenemedikleri için cehennemin dibine kadar yolları var. Sürekli söylenip duran bücür Jakob Elinsky'nin de canı cehenneme. Hep sevgililerimin kıçlarına bakıp duran Frank Slattery'nin de canı cehenneme. Ben gidince özgürlüğünü ilan edecek Naturelle Rosariao'nun da canı cehenneme. Güvendiğim ama beni gammazlayan Kostya Novotyny'in de. Karanlık odasında film banyo edip duran babamın da. Karlar altında çürüyen annemin de. Bu kadar çabuk kurtulan İsa'nın da canı cehenneme. Çarmıhta yalnızca birkaç saat, cehennemde bir hafta sonu sonra melek ordusuyla eğlence. Bu şehrin ve içindeki her şeyin canı cehenneme. Astoria'daki tek katlı evlerden Park Avenue'daki dublekslere, Brownsville'deki projelerden, Soho'daki mağazalara, Bellevue Hastanesi'nden Alphabet City'deki meskenlere, Park Slope'un kahverengi taşlarına kadar her şeyin canı cehenneme. Bırakın Araplar her tarafı bombalasınlar, bırakın sular yükselsin ve bu fare delikleri yok olsun, depremler yıksın tüm bu yüksek binaları, alevler sarsın her yanı. Yaksın, yıksın, bitirsin. Ve senin de canın cehenneme Montygomery Brogan. Her şeyi mahveden asıl sensin.”
― David Benioff, quote from The 25th Hour

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BookQuoters is a community of passionate readers who enjoy sharing the most meaningful, memorable and interesting quotes from great books. As the world communicates more and more via texts, memes and sound bytes, short but profound quotes from books have become more relevant and important. For some of us a quote becomes a mantra, a goal or a philosophy by which we live. For all of us, quotes are a great way to remember a book and to carry with us the author’s best ideas.

We thoughtfully gather quotes from our favorite books, both classic and current, and choose the ones that are most thought-provoking. Each quote represents a book that is interesting, well written and has potential to enhance the reader’s life. We also accept submissions from our visitors and will select the quotes we feel are most appealing to the BookQuoters community.

Founded in 2023, BookQuoters has quickly become a large and vibrant community of people who share an affinity for books. Books are seen by some as a throwback to a previous world; conversely, gleaning the main ideas of a book via a quote or a quick summary is typical of the Information Age but is a habit disdained by some diehard readers. We feel that we have the best of both worlds at BookQuoters; we read books cover-to-cover but offer you some of the highlights. We hope you’ll join us.