Lois McMaster Bujold: Trending quotes (page 10)

“There are a number of people in the universe I'd be willing to double-cross, but my own wounded aren't among 'em.”

Lois McMaster Bujold Vorkosigan Saga

Vorkosigan Saga, Brothers in Arms (1989)

People , Universe

“Taura nailed it. She'll do for m'lord, all right. And God help their enemies.”

Lois McMaster Bujold Vorkosigan Saga

Vorkosigan Saga, Winterfair Gifts (2008)

God , Help

“He found oddly little regret in his heart for his own lost life. He'd seen more of the world than most men ever did, and he'd had his chances, though the gods knew he'd made little enough of them. Marshaling his thoughts, as he sheltered under his covers, he realized with some wonder that his greatest dismay was for the work he'd be forced to leave undone.”

Lois McMaster Bujold

Source: World of the Five Gods series, The Curse of Chalion (2000), p. 233

Life , Men , God , World

“A stunning first impression was not the same thing as love at first sight. But surely it was an invitation to consider the matter.”

Lois McMaster Bujold

Source: World of the Five Gods series, Paladin of Souls (2003), p. 125

Love

“I am increasingly convinced that technological culture is the entire root of women's liberation.”

Lois McMaster Bujold

"Putting It Together" p. 8
The Vorkosigan Companion (2008)

Women

“It didn't work, so let's do it some more'? In my line of work, they call that military stupidity. I don't know what they call it in civilian life.”

Lois McMaster Bujold Vorkosigan Saga

Vorkosigan Saga, Brothers in Arms (1989)

Life , Stupidity

“I have an aversion to closed doors anyway. You never know what's on the other side.”

Lois McMaster Bujold Vorkosigan Saga

Source: Vorkosigan Saga, Shards of Honor (1986), Chapter 5 (p. 78)

“One learns better than to hand one's choices to fear. With age, with every wound and scar, one learns.”

Lois McMaster Bujold

Source: World of the Five Gods series, Paladin of Souls (2003), p. 296

Age , Fear , Learning

“I have denied my eyes, both inner and outer. I am not a child, or virgin, or modest wife, fearing to offend. No one owns my eyes now but me. If I have not the stomach by now to look upon any sight in the world, good or evil, beautiful or vile, when shall I? It is far too late for innocence. My only hope is the much more painful consolation of wisdom. Which can grow out of knowledge alone. Give me my true eyes. I want to see. I have to know.”

Lois McMaster Bujold

Source: World of the Five Gods series, Paladin of Souls (2003), p. 201

Wisdom , Pain , World , Fear

“It's an ancient and honorable term for the final step in any engineering project. Turn it on, see if it smokes.”

Lois McMaster Bujold Vorkosigan Saga

Vorkosigan Saga, Falling Free (1988)

“"Do you know what this is, Lord Vorkosigan?" Giaja asked.
Miles eyed the medallion of the Order of Merit on its colored ribbon, glittering on a bed of velvet. "Yes, sir. It is a lead weight, suitable for sinking small enemies. Are you going to sew me into a silk sack with it, before you throw me overboard?"”

Lois McMaster Bujold Vorkosigan Saga

Vorkosigan Saga, Cetaganda (1996)

Color

“How could I have died and gone to hell without noticing the transition?”

Lois McMaster Bujold Vorkosigan Saga

Vorkosigan Saga, Borders of Infinity (1989)

Hell

“I am a much better person and a better writer having had my children than I would be otherwise. I would have missed a whole aspect of the human experience that's tremendously fundamental to things like characterization.
A lot of writers write as if the hero sort of popped out of the box at age 22 fully formed. And one thing that raising children does is give you some sense of how human beings really are put together. So when you go to put together a character you can have a more realistic sense of where people really come from, why they really behave the way they do and what a tremendous amount of life and complexity lies behind every human being.
But I think you can get that from being a father too. I think it's something you can do by growing up and being observant even if you don't have children.”

Lois McMaster Bujold

A Girl's World interview (2006)

Life , Children , People , Age

“Some fellows you have to hit with a brick to get their attention. Some you have to hit with a BIG brick.”

Lois McMaster Bujold Vorkosigan Saga

Vorkosigan Saga, Memory (1996)

“Adversity does teach who your real friends are.”

Lois McMaster Bujold Vorkosigan Saga

Vorkosigan Saga, A Civil Campaign (1999)

“The deadly weapon seemed unnaturally light and easy in his hand. Something that lethal should have more heft, like a broadsword. Wrong, for murder to be so potentially effortless — one ought to at least have to grunt for it.”

Lois McMaster Bujold Vorkosigan Saga

Vorkosigan Saga, The Warrior's Apprentice (1986)

Light

“Mark's own taste in women, if ever he should live to exercise it, ran more to something like that little blonde clone…Somebody short, soft, pink, timid, somebody who wouldn't kill and eat him after they mated.”

Lois McMaster Bujold Vorkosigan Saga

Vorkosigan Saga, Mirror Dance (1994)

Women , Exercises

“There are always survivors at a massacre. Among the victors, if nowhere else.”

Lois McMaster Bujold Vorkosigan Saga

Vorkosigan Saga, Ethan of Athos (1986)

“The last thing a monster wanted was a fellow to follow him around all day long with a mirror.”

Lois McMaster Bujold Vorkosigan Saga

Vorkosigan Saga, Memory (1996)

“A tactical retreat is not a bad response to a surprise assault, you know. First you survive. Then you choose your own ground. Then you counterattack.”

Lois McMaster Bujold Vorkosigan Saga

Vorkosigan Saga, A Civil Campaign (1999)