John Flanagan Quotes

#1. Ow!" said Horace as the Ranger's fingers probed and poked around the bruise.
Did that hurt?" Halt asked, and Horace looked at him with exasperation.
Of course it did," he said sharply. "That's why I said 'ow! - Author: John Flanagan

#2. Sometimes," Halt continued, "we tend to expect a little too much of Ranger horses. After all, they are only human. - Author: John Flanagan

#3. I'm sure we're all nervous," Alyss said. She directed one of her rare smiles at Will. "We'd be stupid not to be."
"Well, I'm not!" Horace said, then reddened as Alyss raised one eyebrow and Jenny giggled. - Author: John Flanagan

#4. When you can't see the reason for something, look for the possible result - and ask yourself who might benefit from it. - Author: John Flanagan

#5. You think our mam likes you better than me?" challenged whichever one was the other. (Don't blame me. I've lost track too.) - Author: John Flanagan

#6. So I'm an ace?' Will grinned. 'I'm flattered Halt, flattered. I had no idea you regarded me so highly.'
Halt gave him a long-suffering look. 'I might have been more accurate to say a joker.'
Whatever you say. - Author: John Flanagan

#7. As he poured carefully, Arrow's head turned toward the sound. The horse made a low grumbling noise in his throat.
"Hold your horses," he said. The he laughed. It seemed absurd to say tat to a horse. - Author: John Flanagan

#8. Surrounded by followers, he was alone. - Author: John Flanagan

#9. Horace, who had been trying to find out the meaning of Kurokuma for some time now, was pleased to hear the translation.
"Black bear," he repeated. "It's undoubtedly because I'm so terrible in battle."
"I'd guess so," Will put in. "I've seen you in battle and you're definitely terrible. - Author: John Flanagan

#10. Be beholden to no one, he had said. Make sure you owe nobody any favors. - Author: John Flanagan

#11. I'm reminded of a conversation I had with your father when you wanted to go to Arrida to ransom Erak. I told him, and I'll tell you now, that a queen-to-be has to do these things - has to take chances. Has to get out in the world. You can't rule properly from an ivory tower. - Author: John Flanagan

#12. The man is a nincompoop and a fool. Even worse, he took me for a fool as well. - Author: John Flanagan

#13. Evanlyn opened her mouth to scream. But the horror of the moment froze the sound in her throat and she crouched, openmouthed, as death approached her. It was odd, she thought, that they had dragged her here, left her overnight and then decided to kill her.
It seem such a pointless way to die. - Author: John Flanagan

#14. We're going to see Ragnak," Halt told him. "He's going to have to promise to free every slave who fights for Hallasholm." Will shook his head doubtfully. "He won't like that," he said. Halt turned and looked at him, a faint grin touching the corner of his mouth. He'll hate it," he agreed. - Author: John Flanagan

#15. Your dislike for the project will be duly noted, and ignored. - Author: John Flanagan

#16. He didn't look back. He never did - Author: John Flanagan

#17. The mace prodded
Will in the back again. That little habit was starting to annoy him and he was tempted to take the weapon from the sergeant major and do a little prodding of his own. - Author: John Flanagan

#18. My horse went lame about ten days back and I turned him loose. - Author: John Flanagan

#19. Evanlyn smiled grimly as she thought how once she might have objected to the cruelty of the bird's death. Now, all she felt was a sense of satisfaction as she realized that they would eat well today.
Amazing how an empty belly could change your perspective, she thought. - Author: John Flanagan

#20. Sometimes, he thought wryly, a reputation for being right all the time could be a heavy burden. - Author: John Flanagan

#21. Sometimes, life threw up problems that even the wisest, most trusted mentor couldn't solve for you. It was part of the pain of growing up.
And having to stand by and watch was part of being a mentor. - Author: John Flanagan

#22. I am the lord of Redmont Fief. He is my tenant. I am his commander. End of story. Ipso facto. Case-o closed-o. - Author: John Flanagan

#23. Then, driven by the same impulse, they kissed him
Aylss on the let cheek, Evanlyn on the right. And then they glared daggers at each other. -pg 372 - Author: John Flanagan

#24. Hangovers had a way of teaching people that drinking alcohol was not a good idea. - Author: John Flanagan

#25. Mind you, Princess Cassandra used to stalk us when she sneaked out of the castle as a girl. - Author: John Flanagan

#26. He smiled as Will handled the flask gingerly. 'there's a glass bottle inside,but it's padded with straw and protected by the leather covering. It's quite safe. Just be careful how you handle it. - Author: John Flanagan

#27. As the old Ranger adage went If a person doesn't expect to see someone, odds are he won't. - Author: John Flanagan

#28. Yes, I'm back," he said, "And look who I ran into."
Horace grinned at him. "i hope you ran into him hard."
"As hard as I could. - Author: John Flanagan

#29. Which leaves us to the question, what is he up to?" Evanlyn said.
Will shrugged. "I suppose we'll find out soon enough," he said, and urged Tug forward to take up the point position once more.
They found out the following evening. - Author: John Flanagan

#30. I wouldn't want to get you into trouble." Gordon hesitated still ...
Maddie laughed carelessly. "Wouldn't be the first time. Probably wouldn't be the last. - Author: John Flanagan

#31. Then the two friends leaned back and watched the sun rise clear of the trees.
"Best time of day," said Will.
Yes," Horace agreed. "What's for breakfast? - Author: John Flanagan

#32. Shut up, Axl!" he whispered fiercly. "If you want to break your neck, do it quietly or I'll break it for you. - Author: John Flanagan

#33. Don't worry, chief. We've got these Tualaghi surrounded - from the inside."
"Exactly," Erak replied dryly.
- Author: John Flanagan

#34. More delicious aromas rose. He sprinkled in a - Author: John Flanagan

#35. Shokaku is a crane of some kind.'
'For lifting things?' Will asked.
'For flying. A crane is a large bird,' she corrected him ...
'Seems like a logical thing for a crane to do,' Halt mused. 'I suppose you wouldn't expect it to mean 'a hiking crane' or 'a waddling crane. - Author: John Flanagan

#36. Always expect something to go wrong," he told him. "Believe me, if you're wrong, you're not dissapointed. If you're right, you're ready for it. - Author: John Flanagan

#37. Now, if you two will excuse us, we'll get back to the relatively simple buisness of planning a war, he said.
-Baron Arald - Author: John Flanagan

#38. You've always said I should have an inquiring mind," she said.
"I have. But not an interrupting one. - Author: John Flanagan

#39. Have you seen them?" he asked. Arrow looked at him disinterestedly. Will frowned. Not talking, eh?" he said. "Maybe you're a little hoarse." He cackled breifly at his own wit. - Author: John Flanagan

#40. Oh, it's a case of 'they think I'll think that they'll do A, so they'll do B because I wouldn't think they'd think of that but then because I might think I know what they're thinking they'll do A after all because I wouldn't think they'd think that way,' Will said - Author: John Flanagan

#41. It formed into small drops on his weather beaten features, drops that rolled down his cheeks. Strangely, some of them tasted like salt. - Author: John Flanagan

#42. I think you're wonderful too, Hal! Stephan said, in a workmanlike approximation of Ophelia's breathless, admiring tones. The crew laughed even harder.
Lydia snorted through her nose. - Author: John Flanagan

#43. A good leader is someone who knows what he's bad at, and hires someone who's good at it to take care of it for him. - Author: John Flanagan

#44. I'll build mine tomorrow," Horace said through a mouthful of food. "This is excellent, Will! When I have grandchildren, I'll name them all after you! - Author: John Flanagan

#45. You're a very amusing fellow," he told Halt. "I'd like to brain you with my ax one of these days."
Erak to Halt. - Author: John Flanagan

#46. Do you have a death wish?" he asked. Will grinned at him.
I'm just relying on your judgment," he replied. "I can't keep track of everything in my head. - Author: John Flanagan

#47. Aye! Claiming to be able to keep Mountshannon safe. Funny how religious folks like that say their god will protect them - right up until someone hits them with a club." "Still, - Author: John Flanagan

#48. I said, names aren't important," he repeated. There was a silence between them for some seconds, then the Ranger said: "Do you know what is important?"
Will shook his head.
"Supper is important! - Author: John Flanagan

#49. What the devil is Chocho?' Will whispered.
Horace's grin broadened. 'You are. It's what the men call you,' he said. Then he added, 'It's a term of great respect.'
Behind them, Halt nodded confirmation. 'Great respect,' he agreed. - Author: John Flanagan

#50. Forty, sleepy, overweight, comfortable Arridi townsmen, who hadn't fought a real engagment in twenty years or more, wouldn't provide much resistance to thirty yelling, fiendish, bloodthirsty, gold crazed Skandians who would come screaming up from the beach like the hounds of hell. - Author: John Flanagan

#51. Always expect trouble in the desert. Then you usually won't meet it. - Author: John Flanagan

#52. You're a dead man, Arratay," Jerrel said through clenched teeth.
Halt smiled. "That's been said before. Yet here I am. - Author: John Flanagan

#53. Very impressive. Where did you learn that?
Made it up just now. - Author: John Flanagan

#54. Let's face it, she can't have simply disappeared ... can she?"
Horace shrugged. "That's what I keep telling myself," he said morosley. "But somehow it looks as if she has. - Author: John Flanagan

#55. Will was worth at least a few tears from a grizzled old wreck like himself, he thought, and made no move to wipe them away. - Author: John Flanagan

#56. Does your friend ever say anything?' the fat man asked. Aloom set down the piece of bread he had just rolled round several chunks of meat and gave an exasperated sigh.
'I heard him say oops! once, when he cut the ears off someone who was asking too many questions. - Author: John Flanagan

#57. Nothing like a little wanton destruction to get boys excited, Thorn thought, smiling to himself. - Author: John Flanagan

#58. I don't snore," Horace said, with dignity. Will raised his eyebrows."Is that so?" he said. "Then in that case, you'd better chase out that colony of walruses who are in the tent with you. - Author: John Flanagan

#59. Sometimes, he thought, all you could do was wait. - Author: John Flanagan

#60. Halt Halt, said Gilan stepping out into the open. - Author: John Flanagan

#61. He shook his head. He didn't know. He couldn't tell when he had woken fully. He walked to the horses. They definitely seemed alarmed. But then, they would. After all, he had just leapt to his feet unexpectedly, waving his saxe knife around like a lunatic. - Author: John Flanagan

#62. But ... what if I mistime it?"
Gilan smiled widely. "Well, in that case, I'll probably lop your head off your shoulders."
Horace and Gilan - Author: John Flanagan

#63. true authority came from sharing the hard work, not attempting to place oneself above it. - Author: John Flanagan

#64. Although it does help if your intelligence force is also intelligent. - Author: John Flanagan

#65. You can always win points; winning people's respect is a lot more important. - Author: John Flanagan

#66. There are always risks in battle. It's a dangerous business. The trick is to take the right ones.' [said Halt].
'How do you know which are the right ones?' Shigeru asked.
Halt glanced at his two younger companions. They grinned and answered in chorus, 'You wait and see if you win. - Author: John Flanagan

#67. My freind is the man who gives me a book I aint read.Abraham Linclion - Author: John Flanagan

#68. It was safe to assume that the rider would be carrying a weapon of some kind. After all, there was no point in wearing half armor and going weaponless. - Author: John Flanagan

#69. All we could get out of them was that they were taking us to 'Kurokuma'. We didn't know if that was a place or a person. What does it mean, by the way?'
'I'm told it's a term of great respect,' Horace said, unwilling to admit that he didn't know. - Author: John Flanagan

#70. The Slave master named Mahmel Was a nasty kind of thug, so Stiggy dropped a rock on him and squashed him like a bug. - Author: John Flanagan

#71. How will I ever carry out diplomatic missions without someone to throw unpleasant nobles out the window?" "I'll - Author: John Flanagan

#72. What did he do? Your friend, I mean?" he asked. "He puked into his helmet," Will said. "Extensively," Horace added. The - Author: John Flanagan

#73. You're not built for riding, either," Horace added. "I'd say more saddle sore than homesick."
Svenal sighed ruefully, shifting his buttocks for the twentieth time to find a more comfortable spot.
"It's true," he said. "I've been discovering parts of my backside I never knew existed. - Author: John Flanagan

#74. Don't concentrate on the obvious. They might want you to miss something else. - Author: John Flanagan

#75. Never take your eyes off them," Horace said to Gilan, in an admonishing tone. "Didn't MacNeil ever tell you that? - Author: John Flanagan

#76. Where the large bloodstain still marked the grass. - Author: John Flanagan

#77. If and perhaps ... The language of procrastination and uncertainty. That's just people looking to justify their own lack of action. - Author: John Flanagan

#78. Sarcasm isn't the lowest form of wit. It isn't even wit at all. - Author: John Flanagan

#79. Sometimes I'm so devious I confuse myself. - Author: John Flanagan

#80. Welcome to Shelter Bay,' he said to Stig. 'Is that what it's called?' Hal gave him a tired grin. 'It is now'. - Author: John Flanagan

#81. What are you looking at, foreigner?" the guard demanded roughly. The smile was a little unsettling. A prisoner shouldn't smile at his captors like that.
"I'm just making sure I can remember you," Gilan told him. "Never know when that might be useful. - Author: John Flanagan

#82. A hundred people is rather a large handful for the four of us to take on," Malcolm pointed out. "Do you have any ideas about how we're going to handle that task?"
"Simple," Halt told him. "We'll surround them. - Author: John Flanagan

#83. Idiots, Halt muttered. If we were here to cause trouble, we could simply ride them both down - Author: John Flanagan

#84. Include me out," he - Author: John Flanagan

#85. Would you trust him with your life, Halt?" Gilan interrupted, and Halt looked up at him.
"Yes," he said quietly. Gilan patted his shoulder once more.
"Then trust him with his own," he said simply. - Author: John Flanagan

#86. Who are you, gaijin? What do you know about honor?'
'I'm called Chocho,' Will said ...
'Chocho?' Arisaka shouted, goaded beyond control. 'Butterfly? Then die, Butterfly! - Author: John Flanagan

#87. What about you three, where are you going?"
Even before Halt answered, Will knew what he was going to say. But that didn't make it any less terrifying or blood-chilling when the words were said.
"We're going after the Kalkara. - Author: John Flanagan

#88. Then, marveling at the recuperative powers and endurance of the Ranger horse breed, he tightened the girths on Blaze's saddle and swung astride the bay, groaning softly as he did so. Ranger horses might recover quickly. Ranger apprentices took a little longer. It - Author: John Flanagan

#89. If everything is done for me ... how will I ever learn? - Author: John Flanagan

#90. Sometimes people can be too intellegent for their own good. Too much thinking could confuse things. - Author: John Flanagan

#91. But if we're going to kill them all, we might as well make an occasion of it."
Toshak shrugged. "Do as you wish," he said. "Occasion or not, as long as they're all dead, I'm happy. - Author: John Flanagan

#92. Always move forward if you have the option. - Author: John Flanagan

#93. Halt sighed in exasperation. "What is it with you Araluens? Are you all afraid of a little fall?" He began hauling the rope up, coiling it over his shoulder as it came. "It's not the fall that bothers me," said Duncan. "It's the sudden stop at the end. - Author: John Flanagan

#94. Remember, this thing is small. It's not like the wolfships. It'll ride over the waves, not crash through them. So we're safe as houses.
He wasn't sure about the last two statements, but they seemed logical to him. - Author: John Flanagan

#95. Remember no one expects you to be Halt. He's a legend, after all. Haven't you heard? He's eight feet tall and kills bears with his bare hands ... - Author: John Flanagan

#96. Success tended to make the unorthodox acceptable - Author: John Flanagan

#97. [Will]'d barely been asleep a few minutes when Halt's voice woke him.
'Will? Are you asleep?' ...
'I was,' he said, a little indignantly. 'I'm not now.'
'Good,' Halt replied, a trifle smugly. 'Serves you right. - Author: John Flanagan

#98. Think of a positive outcome, and
you will achieve it. Allow doubt to enter your mind, and the doubt will become self-fulfilling. - Author: John Flanagan

#99. If you only value my advice when I agree with you, you don't value it at all. - Author: John Flanagan

#100. Halt shook his head. Frankly, he'd seen sacks of potatoes that could sit a horse better than Erak - Author: John Flanagan