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David Gemmell Quotes
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David Andrew Gemmell was a British author of heroic fantasy, best known for his debut novel, Legend. A former journalist and newspaper editor, Gemmell had his first work of fiction published in 1984. He went on to write over thirty novels. Gemmell's works display violence, yet also explore themes of honour, loyalty and redemption. There is always a strong heroic theme but nearly always the heroes are flawed in some way. With over one million copies sold, his work continues to sell worldwide.

In 2008, the David Gemmell Awards for Fantasy were established, intended to "restore fantasy to its proper place in the literary pantheon"; a steering group of 18 authors is chaired by writer Stan Nicholls and the award is decided by a public vote. Wikipedia  

✵ 1. August 1948 – 28. July 2006
David Gemmell: 195   quotes 3   likes

David Gemmell Quotes

“‘ Win or lose, we achieve nothing in the world that we understand […]’‘ But then the world does not matter.’‘ Indeed it does not […] It is good to understand that.’”

David Gemmell book Quest for Lost Heroes

Source: Drenai series, Quest for Lost Heroes, Ch. 10

World , Understanding

“All beauty is sad. For it fades.”

David Gemmell book Legend

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 16

Sadness , Beauty

“In my experience all women deserve someone better.”

David Gemmell book The Swords of Night and Day

Source: Drenai series, The Swords of Night and Day, Ch. 10

Women

“I am not going to talk about patriotism, duty, liberty, and the defense of freedom — because that's all dung to a soldier.”

David Gemmell book Legend

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 12

Freedom

“‘ Is the war coming to Eldacre, my lord?’ asked Ramus, as he settled into the chair.
'I fear it is. A more stupid and wasteful business there never was. Fields will not be planted, food will run low, tax revenues will dry up — save from the makers of swords and munitions.”

David Gemmell book Stormrider

Source: Rigante series, Stormrider, Ch. 15

War , Stupidity , Fear , Food

“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.”

David Gemmell book Legend

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 18

Life , Death , Thinking , Laughter

“"I am not going to kill a man because he won't let us rob him." "Then go back to your mother and send for a man who wants to win."”

David Gemmell book The King Beyond the Gate

Source: Drenai series, The King Beyond the Gate, Ch. 9

“We are full of dreams […] We long for the unattainable. We believe in the nonsense of fables. There is no pure love; there is lust and there is need.”

David Gemmell book Quest for Lost Heroes

Source: Drenai series, Quest for Lost Heroes, Ch. 12

Love , Dreams

“The very odd thing about sagas […] is that they very rarely mention dry mouths and full bladders.”

David Gemmell book Legend

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 22

“…[A]ll duels followed a pattern. They began with heat and fury, then settled into a contest of wills. With two equally matched opponents there would come a time when the worm of doubt entered the equation. The truly skilled recognized such moments, and fed them. It was at this time that the endgame would begin.”

David Gemmell book Stormrider

Source: Rigante series, Stormrider, Ch. 7

Time

“A man should be free to do what he wants to do, as long as it doesn't hurt others.”

David Gemmell book Legend

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 15

Hurt

“Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone fails at something.”

David Gemmell book Legend

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 10

“The point is […] that you never know whether you've lost until you've lost. Anything can happen.”

David Gemmell book Legend

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 15

“Man alone, it seems, lives all his life in the knowledge of death. And yet there is more to life than merely waiting for death. For life to have meaning, there must be a purpose. A man must pass something on — otherwise he is useless.”

David Gemmell book Legend

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 29

Life , Death , Knowledge , Waiting

“Never be glad that another man has died. Not ever. […] It never ends. Never… ever… be glad to kill.”

David Gemmell book Quest for Lost Heroes

Source: Drenai series, Quest for Lost Heroes, Ch. 11

“Where will you go from here?' he asked.Chellin shrugged. 'Who knows? North again. Maybe not. I'm tired of this life, Kiall. I may head south, to Drenai land. Buy a farm, raise a family.'
'And have raiders descend on you to steal your daughters?'
Chellin nodded and sighed. 'Yes. Like all dreams, it doesn't bear close examination […]”

David Gemmell book Quest for Lost Heroes

Source: Drenai series, Quest for Lost Heroes, Ch. 10

Life , Family , Dreams , Daughters

“"… But men don't come in just two groups, one of gold and the other of lead. They are a mix of both." "And what about women?" "Pure gold, my girl," Rayvan answered with a chuckle.”

David Gemmell book The King Beyond the Gate

Source: Drenai series, The King Beyond the Gate, Ch. 22

Women , Men , Girl

“I think maybe it is better to believe than not to believe. But I couldn't tell you why.”

David Gemmell book The King Beyond the Gate

Source: Drenai series, The King Beyond the Gate, Ch. 24

Thinking

“A man with wife and daughters has no place losing his temper.”

David Gemmell book Legend

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 7

Daughters

“All men have talents. Some build, some paint, some write, some fight. For me it is different.”

David Gemmell book Legend

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 17

Men , Fight , Painting

“It never ceases to surprise me how few friends the doomed have. One moment they are surrounded by smilingfaces, the next they are uterly friendless.”

David Gemmell book Stormrider

Source: Rigante series, Stormrider, Ch. 4

“All legends have a base in fact.”

David Gemmell book The Swords of Night and Day

Source: Drenai series, The Swords of Night and Day, Ch. 14

“It is not hard to change when your biggest problem is whether the weeds prosper in a vegetable patch.”

David Gemmell book The King Beyond the Gate

Source: Drenai series, The King Beyond the Gate, Ch. 7

Problem , Change

“Our ancestors have fought wars since time. And won them. More than that, we have built societies and held them together. We are the rulers, Gaise. We are the mighty. Remember that tomorrow.”

David Gemmell book Stormrider

Source: Rigante series, Stormrider, Ch. 17

War , Time

“What do you mean, why? Is it not obvious? What is life but a betrayal? We start out young, full of hope. The sun is good; the world awaits us. But every passing year shows how small you are, how insignificant against the power of the seasons. Then you age. Your strength fails, and the world laughs at you through the jeers of younger men. And you die. Alone. Unfulfilled. But sometimes … sometimes there will come a man who is not insignificant. He can change the world, rob the seasons of their power. He is the sun.”

David Gemmell book The King Beyond the Gate

Source: Drenai series, The King Beyond the Gate, Ch. 23

Life , Men , Age , World

“The world would be a sad place without mysteries.”

David Gemmell book The King Beyond the Gate

Source: Drenai series, The King Beyond the Gate, Ch. 2

World , Sadness

“This world has few redeeming features, and one is the capacity for people to love one another with great, enduring passion.”

David Gemmell book Legend

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 12

Love , People , World , Passion

“I was on top of the mountain. But there was nothing there. Just clouds. And I found that you can't live on that mountain. But when it throws you off — oh, how you long for it! I would kill to climb it again. I would sell my soul. It is so stupid. […] I took the standard. And now I can't even become a farmer again. The mountain won't let me.”

David Gemmell book Quest for Lost Heroes

Source: Drenai series, Quest for Lost Heroes, Ch. 1

Stupidity , Soul , Mountain

“"You have suffered many wounds." […] "It shows how many skilled swordsmen there are."”

David Gemmell book Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf

ibid
Drenai series, Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf

Suffering

“A lovers' spat," he said. "You know how it is. Boy meets girl, girl wants boy dead. An everyday story, really.”

David Gemmell book The Swords of Night and Day

Source: Drenai series, The Swords of Night and Day, Ch. 14

Girl , Boy , Lovers , Dead

“Do not expect help.' 'One should always hope.' 'Then hope for a handsome savage with kindly ways.”

David Gemmell book Quest for Lost Heroes

Source: Drenai series, Quest for Lost Heroes, Ch. 2

Hope , Way , Help

“Every man has his own reason for every deed. Usually it is selfish.”

David Gemmell book Quest for Lost Heroes

Source: Drenai series, Quest for Lost Heroes, Ch. 10

Selfishness

“When healers yearn to kill then hope begins to die … Evil cannot be overcome by evil.”

David Gemmell book Stormrider

Source: Rigante series, Stormrider, Ch. 2

Hope , Evil

“None of us can choose the manner of our passing.”

David Gemmell book Legend

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 10

“Do not speak badly of yourself, for the warrior that is inside you hears your words and is lessened by them. You are strong and you are brave. There is a nobility of spirit within you. Let it grow — you will do well enough.”

David Gemmell book Quest for Lost Heroes

Source: Drenai series, Quest for Lost Heroes, Ch. 3

Strong

“No one can take away the freedom of a man's soul.”

David Gemmell book Legend

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 9

Soul , Freedom

“"Why do they do it?" whispered Horeb. "Their eyes, you mean?" said Rek. "Yes. How can a man put out his own eyes?" "Damned if I know. They say it aids their visions." "Sounds about as sensible as cutting off your staff in order to aid your sex life."”

David Gemmell book Legend

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 1

Life , Sex

“You are getting too old for this." "A man is as old as he feels, woman!" "And how old do you feel?”

David Gemmell book The King Beyond the Gate

"About ninety."
Source: Drenai series, The King Beyond the Gate, Ch. 15

Feeling

“[…] In real war an officer may have only one chance at succeeding. Consider each problem.”

David Gemmell book Quest for Lost Heroes

Source: Drenai series, Quest for Lost Heroes, Ch. 1

War , Problem , Chance

“"I don't think I would be too comfortable with many of his compliments… He's a butcher!" "More than that, my friend… he is a warmaster. And that makes him a master butcher."”

David Gemmell book The King Beyond the Gate

Source: Drenai series, The King Beyond the Gate, Ch. 21

Thinking

“Love is for fools. It is a surging of blood in the loins … there is no mystery, and no magic. Find someone else, my boy.”

David Gemmell book Quest for Lost Heroes

Source: Drenai series, Quest for Lost Heroes, Ch. 2

Love , Fools , Boy

“This bow I held had killed many men, and it had power, dread power, in its ebony stock.”

David Gemmell book Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf

ibid
Drenai series, Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf

Men

“You kol-isha think you know everything. You think the world was created for your pleasure, but you do not understand the land. You sit there and you breathe and you feel the cold earth beneath you, and you notice nothing. And why? Because you live your lives in cities of stone, building walls to keep at bay the spirit of the land. You see nothing. You hear nothing. You feel nothing.”

David Gemmell book Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf

ibid
Drenai series, Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf

Pleasure , World , Feeling , Understanding

“Well, who decides who as won or lost? It's not like Avondale any more. That was easy. We charged. They ran. We captured their cannon. Now, that was a victory. Now, we just charge each other, kill each other, and argue about who won.”

David Gemmell book Stormrider

Source: Rigante series, Stormrider, Ch. 3

Victory

“Yes, love […] can heal the wounds of hatred. Love can eradicate lust and greed. Through love a man of evil can come to find repentance and redemption. For the Source abandons no man.”

David Gemmell book Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf

Source: Drenai series, Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf, Ch. 6

Love , Evil

“A man can be aroused to anger as easily as he is aroused to rut. The two emotions are closely linked. Anger and lust. So the warrior is aroused in battle and fights to dominate.”

David Gemmell book Quest for Lost Heroes

Source: Drenai series, Quest for Lost Heroes, Ch. 11

Fight , Anger

“A man's strength is ultimately born of his knowledge of his own weakness …”

David Gemmell book Legend

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 7

Knowledge

“Death haunts everyone and never fails.”

David Gemmell book The King Beyond the Gate

Source: Drenai series, The King Beyond the Gate, Ch. 2

Death

“War. What was it about the prospect of some bloody enterprises that reduced men to the level of animals?”

David Gemmell book Legend

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 1

Men , War , Animals

“A methodical people," pulsed the voice of Kesa Khan. "They call themselves civilized because they can build tall castles and pitch their tents with geometric precision, but from here you can see the reality. Ants build in the same way. Are they civilized?”

David Gemmell book Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf

Source: Drenai series, Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf, Ch. 13

People , Way , Reality