Scott Lynch: Trending quotes

“I have always found the presumptions of others to be the best possible disguise—haven’t you?”

Reminiscence “The Capa of Vel Virazzo” section 5 (p. 65)
Red Seas Under Red Skies (2007)

““That’s a sweet piece,“ said Jean, briefly forgetting to be aggravated. “You didn’t snatch that off a street.“
“No,“ said Locke, before taking another deep draught of the warm water in the decanter. “I got it from the neck of the governor’s mistress.“
“You can’t be serious.“
“In the governor’s manor.“
“Of all the—“
“In the governor’s bed.“
“Damned lunatic!“
“With the governor sleeping next to her… It is possible,“ said Locke with a sheepish grin, “that I have been slightly too bold.“”

Source: The Lies of Locke Lamora (2006), Chapter 15 “Spiderbite” section 5 (p. 636)

“Damn it, when will you learn that refusing to admit you’ve lost isn’t the same as winning?”

Reminiscence “The Capa of Vel Virazzo” section 6 (pp. 70-71)
Red Seas Under Red Skies (2007)

“Only gods-damned fools die for lines drawn on maps.”

Interlude “Striking Sparks” section 2 (p. 233)
The Republic of Thieves (2013)

““Thank you very much, sir,” said Beth with nothing resembling actual gratitude.”

Source: Red Seas Under Red Skies (2007), Chapter 11 “All Else, Truth” section 5 (p. 513)

“Sabetha threw her own shoes and costume components on the tiles near the bath. She retained only her black hose and a dressing gown. Locke did his best to look like he wasn’t staring, and she did an admirable job of pretending she wasn’t encouraging him.”

Prologue “The Minder” section 5 (p. 10)
The Republic of Thieves (2013)

“I’m sure we can communicate. I speak fluent hatchet.”

Interlude “Death Masks” section 8 (p. 639)
The Republic of Thieves (2013)

““You need money that badly?”
“As a tool, certainly. Its application is simple and universally effective.””

Source: The Lies of Locke Lamora (2006), Chapter 10 “Teeth Lessons” section 2 (p. 457)

“I sometimes think that ‘friend’ is just a word I use for all the people I haven't murdered yet.”

Source: The Republic of Thieves (2013), Chapter 4 “Across the Amathel” section 3 (p. 190)

Scott Lynch

Source: Short fiction, A Year and a Day in Old Theradane (2014), p. 258

“The sun is up, and all that money out there won’t steal itself.”

“Are you really that arrogant, that logic is as optional as a fashion accessory for you?”

Interlude “The Undrowned Girl” section 1 (p. 69)
The Republic of Thieves (2013)

“Enlightenment! When it comes, it comes like a brick to the head, doesn’t it?”

Source: The Republic of Thieves (2013), Chapter 9 “The Five-Year Game: Reasonable Doubt” section 2 (p. 551)

“When you’re a priest, people tend to see the robe rather than the man.”

Interlude “Locke Stays for Dinner” section 1 (p. 125)
The Lies of Locke Lamora (2006)

“Commonly thought,’ you say? Many things are commonly thought, but perhaps not commonly thought all the way through.”

Interlude “The Half-Crown War” section 1 (p. 414)
The Lies of Locke Lamora (2006)

““Yes, I like it a lot, it’s all worth having to bathe, even!”
“Hmmm,” said Chains. “You live long enough for your stones to drop, then tell me if bathing is really such a hardship when the young women around you have bosoms that are more than theoretical.”
“What? When my what?”
“Never mind. That subject will be sufficiently confusing in its own good time.””

Source: The Lies of Locke Lamora (2006), Chapter 9 “A Curious Tale for Countess Amberglass” section 1 (p. 435)

“”Is this man, ah, senile?”
”He’s absolutely competent,” she answered coldly.
”I assure you I am,” roared Cordo. Anger changed his countenance utterly. ”And I will not be put off from business by assassins in my own bedroom! Now, you will either kill me immediately or negotiate the price of my release!”

Interlude “The Boy Who Chased Red Dresses” section 1 (pp. 115-116)
The Republic of Thieves (2013)

“You’re trying to be charming again,” she said softly, “but I do not choose to be charmed, Locke Lamora.”

Source: Red Seas Under Red Skies (2007), Chapter 16 “Settling Accounts” section 3 (p. 712)

“In my dreams I sign chits and file papers,” Nikoros muttered. “Then I awake to sign real chits and file real papers. I imagine my grave marker will be carved as a writing desk. ‘Here lies Nikoros Via Lupa, wifeless and heirless, but gods how he could alphabetize!’”

Interlude “Striking Sparks” section 6 (p. 247)
The Republic of Thieves (2013)

“Nikoros, your job this afternoon is to say yes to anything that comes out of my mouth. The more you rehearse this, the sooner it’ll become a smooth mechanical process allowing no time for painful reflection. Can you practice for me?”
“Yes.”

Source: The Republic of Thieves (2013), Chapter 10 “The Five-Year Game: Final Approaches” section 5 (p. 582)