Scott Lynch: Likeness

“There’s no freedom quite like the freedom of being constantly underestimated.”

Scott Lynch The Lies of Locke Lamora

Source: The Lies of Locke Lamora (2006), Chapter 4 “At the Court of Capa Barsavi” section 5 (p. 219)

Freedom

“Maxilan, darling." Locke raised one eyebrow and smiled. "I knew you were driven, but I had no idea you could smoulder. Come, take me now! Jean won't mind; he'll avert his eyes like a gentleman.”

Scott Lynch book Red Seas Under Red Skies

Source: Red Seas Under Red Skies

Smile , Idea

“I think piracy is a bit like drinking. You want to stay out all night doing it, you pay the price the next day.”

Scott Lynch book Red Seas Under Red Skies

Source: Red Seas Under Red Skies

Drink , Thinking , Night

“The water caught the Falselight glimmer like layers of shifting, translucent mirrors and formed split-second works of art in the air, but men cursed it anyway, because it made their heads wet.”

Scott Lynch The Lies of Locke Lamora

Source: The Lies of Locke Lamora

Men , Art , Water

“If you put Durant's brains in a thimble full of water they'd look like a ship lost in the middle of the sea.”

Scott Lynch The Lies of Locke Lamora

Source: The Lies of Locke Lamora

Water , Sea

““What’s your hand look like?“
“A parched desert… How’s yours?“
“A wasteland of bitter frustration.“”

Scott Lynch book Red Seas Under Red Skies

Source: Red Seas Under Red Skies (2007), Chapter 1 “Little Games” section 1 (p. 7)

“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.”

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

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

Shoe

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

Scott Lynch The Lies of Locke Lamora

Interlude “Locke Stays for Dinner” section 1 (p. 125)
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.””

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

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

Women , Time

“In time, you’ll come to understand that a state like ours cannot afford to offer up a show of weakness for honesty’s sake; Duke Nicovante charges me with vouchsafing his security, not his conscience.”

Scott Lynch The Lies of Locke Lamora

Epilogue, “Falselight” section 2 (p. 715)
The Lies of Locke Lamora (2006)

Understanding , Time

“I can’t live forever. Each time something like this affair lands in my lap, I suddenly recall that I don’t want to live forever.”

Scott Lynch The Lies of Locke Lamora

Epilogue, “Falselight” section 2 (p. 716)
The Lies of Locke Lamora (2006)

Time

““I never even liked cats all that much.”
“Surely you realize,” said Patience, “that cats are no great respecters of human opinion.””

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

Source: The Republic of Thieves (2013), Chapter 3 “Blood and Breath and Water” section 1 (p. 146)

Cats , Patience

“Remember when I told you, for the first time? You nearly threw me off the roof—”
“I thought you deserved it. You know, it’s an opinion I return to from time to time, whether or not a roof is available.”
“You’re a difficult woman, Sabetha. But then, difficult women are the only ones worth falling in love with.”
“How would you know? It’s not like you’ve ever been after anyone else—”
“That part’s easy. I started with the most difficult woman possible, so there was never any need to look any further.”
“You’re trying to be charming.” She squeezed his hand once, then pulled away. “I choose not to be entirely charmed, Locke Lamora.”
“Not entirely?”

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

“Not entirely. Not yet.”
Source: The Republic of Thieves (2013), Chapter 8 “The Five-Year Game: Infinite Variation” section 11 (p. 483)

Love , Women , Time , Parting