Quotes from book
The Republic of Thieves

The Republic of Thieves

The Republic of Thieves is a fantasy novel by American writer Scott Lynch, the third book in the Gentleman Bastard series. It details the continuing adventures of Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen, as well as Sabetha, Locke's previously absent love interest. The book was released on October 8, 2013 in the US and October 10 2013 in the UK & Commonwealth. It is published by Random House and Orion.

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

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

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

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

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

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

“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)

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

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

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

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

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

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

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

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

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

““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)

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

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

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

“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!’”

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

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

“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.”

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

“You’re a natural.”
Source: The Republic of Thieves (2013), Chapter 5 “The Five-Year Game: Starting Position” section 7 (p. 275)

“How you deal with it I must and will leave to you, not out of despair or resignation but in deference to my conscience, that broken clock which I believe is now chiming one of its occasional right hours. I will not question your reasons. It is enough for you to tell me that you wish to keep this distance between us, and it will always be enough. Know that a single word will bring me running, but unless and until it pleases you to give it, I will expect nothing, force nothing, and contrive nothing contrary to your wishes.
I desire you as deeply as I ever have, but I understand that the fervor of a desire is irrelevant to its justice. I want your heart on merit, in mutual trust, or not at all, because I cannot bear to see you made uneasy by me. Not for all the world would I do so again, and I leave it to you to tell me how to proceed, if and when you can, if and when you will.”

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

Source: The Republic of Thieves (2013), Chapter 10 “The Five-Year Game: Final Approaches” section 11 (p. 605)

““There were difficulties.”
“Oh,” she said, “so you’re the man whose life develops complications! I’ve so longed to meet you; the rest of us here in this world have it much too easy, I’m afraid.””

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

Source: The Republic of Thieves (2013), Chapter 6 “The Five-Year Game: Change of Venue” section 8 (p. 337)

“Next came the sort of kiss that banished the world to distant background noise and seemed to last a month.”

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

Source: The Republic of Thieves (2013), Chapter 10 “The Five-Year Game: Final Approaches” section 13 (p. 610)

“Most of us find it starkly ludicrous that the height of all possible ambition, to the ungifted, must be to drape oneself in crowns and robes.”

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

Source: The Republic of Thieves (2013), Chapter 4 “Across the Amathel” section 3 (p. 191)

“I’m going to give you a thorough examination. This may cause some discomfort, but don’t complain. I won’t be listening.”

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

Source: The Republic of Thieves (2013), Chapter 1 “Things Get Worse” section 8 (p. 47)

“People die when they get hanged. It’s why they hang them!”

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

Prologue “The Minder” section 8 (p. 19)
The Republic of Thieves (2013)

“I’m not without my sympathies, Lamora. They just don’t necessarily reside with you.”

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

Source: The Republic of Thieves (2013), Chapter 5 “The Five-Year Game: Starting Position” section 6 (p. 270)

“Maybe this is going to complicate the hell out of things. So what? You’re the complication I want more than anything else. You’re my favorite complication.”

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

Source: The Republic of Thieves (2013), Chapter 8 “The Five-Year Game: Infinite Variation” section 2 (p. 449)

““Why the hell are you here?”
“A matter of conscience.”
“Really?” said Locke. “Yours? You keep alluding to its existence. Somehow I’m not convinced.””

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

Source: The Republic of Thieves (2013), Chapter 9 “The Five-Year Game: Reasonable Doubt” section 1 (p. 543)

“Push your luck, gorgeous, and eventually luck pushes back.”

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

Source: The Republic of Thieves (2013), Chapter 8 “The Five-Year Game: Infinite Variation” section 8 (p. 468)

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