John Flanagan: Trending quotes

“But then, in his lifetime, Halt had often ignored what was technically legal. Technicalities didn't appeal to him. All too often, they simply got in the way of doing the right thing.”

“Strange, he thought, how seldom people tend to look up”

“… at the time, King Herbert felt that to remain safe, the kingdom needed an effective intelligence force."

"An intelligent force?" said Will.

"Not intelligent. Intelligence. Although it does help if your intelligence force was also intelligent.”

“Failure is just a few seconds away from success.”

“Very impressive. Where did you learn that?"
Made it up just now.”

“How can you stay so calm?"
It helps if you're terrified.”

“People will think what they want to," he said quietly. Never take too much notice of it.”

“Ow!" said Horace as the Ranger's fingers probed and poked around the bruise.
Did that hurt?" Halt asked, and Horace looked at him with exasperation.
Of course it did," he said sharply. "That's why I said 'ow!”

“Always expect something to go wrong," he told him. "Believe me, if you're wrong, you're not dissapointed. If you're right, you're ready for it.”

“Sometimes," Halt continued, "we tend to expect a little too much of Ranger horses. After all, they are only human.”

“It would be unthinkably bad luck to be betrayed by a rumbling stomach.”

“Sometimes people can be too intellegent for their own good. Too much thinking could confuse things.”

“It's surprising how often history is decided by something as trival as bad shellfish.”

“Remember no one expects you to be Halt. He's a legend, after all. Haven't you heard? He's eight feet tall and kills bears with his bare hands…”

“If they invent a four legged chicken," Will said, "Horace will think he's gone to Heaven.”

“Then, driven by the same impulse, they kissed him--Aylss on the let cheek, Evanlyn on the right.

And then they glared daggers at each other.”

“Ah, Signor Halt,' he said uncertainly, 'you are making a joke, yes?'
'He is making a joke, no,' Will said. 'But he likes to think he is making a joke, yes.”

“An ordinary archer practices until he gets it right. A ranger practices until he never gets it wrong.”

“So I'm an ace?' Will grinned. 'I'm flattered Halt, flattered. I had no idea you regarded me so highly.'
Halt gave him a long-suffering look. 'I might have been more accurate to say a joker.'
Whatever you say.”