Quotes from book
The Five Gold Bands

Name: The Five Gold Bands
Author: Jack Vance

The Five Gold Bands is a science fiction novel by American writer Jack Vance, first published in the November 1950 issue of Startling Stories magazine. It was published in 1953 as a separate book under the title The Space Pirate, and in 1963 it was paired with Vance's Hugo Award-winning novella The Dragon Masters in the form of an Ace Double.

“Down we go,” said Paddy. “Now pray to Saint Anthony if you be a good Catholic—”
“I'm not,” snapped Fay, “and if you'll give more mind to the boat and less to religion we’ll gain by it.”

Jack Vance book The Five Gold Bands

Source: The Five Gold Bands (1950), Chapter 11 (p. 131)

“I'm only giving orders because I'm more efficient and smarter than you are.”

Jack Vance book The Five Gold Bands

Source: The Five Gold Bands (1950), Chapter 5 (p. 57)

“Damned meddlers. It’s hard to know when their curiosity is official and when it’s just curiosity.”

Jack Vance book The Five Gold Bands

Source: The Five Gold Bands (1950), Chapter 6 (p. 65)