Explore Quotes by John Flanagan

You've always said I should have an inquiring mind," she said. "I have. But not an interrupting one.

You can always win points. Winning people’s respect is a lot more important.

I'll find you, Will!" Then the wind filled the big, square sail of the wolfship and she heeled away from the shore, moving faster and faster towards the northeast. For a long time after she'd dropped below the horizon, the sodden figure sat there, his horse chest-deep in the rolling waves, staring after the ship. And his lips still moved, in a silent promis only he could hear.

It's a sword, not a fairy wand, you know.

I'm not really interested in being king. I prefer to work for a living

Don't concentrate on the obvious. They might want you to miss something else.

Now I know that if you wait until you think you are ready, you'll wait your whole life

Success tended to make the unorthodox acceptable

Problems postponed have a habit of solving themselves

It formed into small drops on his weather beaten features, drops that rolled down his cheeks. Strangely, some of them tasted like salt.

Face your fears, Halt had always thought him, and more often than not they fade like mist in the sunshine

Once you best a man, never gloat. Be generous and find something in his actions to praise. He won't enjoy being bested but he'll make a good face about it. Show him you appreciate it. Praise can win you a friend. Gloating will only ever make enemies.

Stig: 'Of course, she'll sail rings around Wolfswind,' Hal: 'Then why didn't you tell him that?' Stig: 'I like my head where it is.

It has to be admitted that, in a sneaking way, although he hated the discomfort of seasickness, once he was over it, he enjoyed the attention and sympathy that it created among attractive young women like Evanlyn and Alyss. And he liked the fact that Will tended to walk on eggshells around him when the problem was mentioned. Keeping Will off balance was always desirable. ~Halt

The young gentleman is correct," he said. Halt raised an eyebrow. "He may be correct, and he is undoubtedly young. But he's no gentleman." ~Halt and General Sapristi speaking of Will

Bear with me on this, Evanlyn. I know you're anxious about Horace." WIll was a little puzzled by Halt's words. "No more anxious than the rest of us, surely," he said. Halt turned away and raised his eyebrows as his gaze met Selethen's. Sometimes, he thought, his former apprentice could be remarkably slow on the uptake. He saw the Arridi's slow nod of understanding. ~Halt & Will about Evanlyn and Horace

Halt! How are you? What have you been doing? Where's Abelard? How's Crowley? What's this all about?" "I'm glad to see you rate my horse more important than our Corps Commandant," Halt said, one eyebrow rising in the expression that Will knew so well. Early in their relationship, he had thought it was an expression of displeasure. He had learned years ago that it was, for Halt, the equivalent of a smile.

Anyone can make a mistake.... It's how they learn from it and recover from it that shows their true worth.

Men... performed better when they understood why they were being asked to carry out a task.

If everything is done for me... how will I ever learn?

If and perhaps.... The language of procrastination and uncertainty. That's just people looking to justify their own lack of action.