Paladin of Souls Quotes

“And the Bastard grant us... in our direst need, the smallest gifts: the nail of the horseshoe, the pin of the axle, the feather at the pivot point, the pebble at the mountain's peak, the kiss in despair, the one right word.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“Poets speak of hope in ladies smiles, but give me a smirk any day, I say.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“I'm not getting it all sorted, she worried. I'm not getting it right.
You are brilliant, the Voice reassured her.
It is imperfect.
So are all things trapped in time. You are brilliant, nonetheless. How fortunate for Us that We thirst for glorious souls rather than faultless ones, or We should be parched indeed, and most lonely in Our perfect righteousness. Carry on imperfectly, shining Ista.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“Your father calls you to his court. You need not pack. You go garbed in glorious raiment. He waits eagerly by his palace doors to welcome you, and has prepared a place at the high table, by his side, in the company of the great-souled, honored, and best-beloved.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“Stand before his grave and use your gift of breath to complain of your limited time. If you dare.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“the gods did not desire flawless souls, but great ones. I think that very darkness is where the greatness grows from, as flowers from the soil. I am not sure, in fact, if greatness can bloom without it.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“We are all of us, every one, our own works; we present our souls to our Patrons at the ends of our lives as an artisan presents the works of his hands.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“...a great man. But...not quite great enough.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“Arhys would have protected you from this choice, as a father would a beloved child. Arhys is wrong in this. I give you a woman's choice, here, at the last gasp. He looks to spare you pain this one night. I look to your nights for the next twenty years. There is neither right nor wrong in this, precisely. But the time to amend all choices runs out like Porifors's water.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“Once, she had been her parents' daughter. Then great, unlucky Ias's wife. Her children's mother. At the last, her mother's keeper. Well, I am none of these things now. Who am I, when I am not surrounded by the walls of my life?”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“Her smile grew bitter as desert brine. "The gods may forgive Ista all day long. But if Ista does not forgive Ista, the gods may go hang themselves.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“The Father of Winter says tells Ista,
"...For my great-souled child is very late, and lost upon his road. My calling voice cannot reach him. He cannot see the light in my window, for he is sundered from me, blind and deaf and stumbling, with none to take his hand and guide him. Yet you may touch him, in his darkness. And I may touch you, in yours. Then take you this thread to draw him through the maze, where I cannot go."

Later, Ista delivers the message,

"Your Father calls you to His Court. You need not pack; you go garbed in glory as you stand. He waits eagerly by His palace doors to welcome you, and has prepared a place at His high table by His side, in the company of the great-souled, honored, and best-beloved. In this I speak true. Bend your head.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“How like a man, to change from mask to mask like a player, concealing all intention, yet leave his heart out on the table, carelessly, unregarded, for all to behold.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“There is this, about being the sparring partner of the best swordsman in Caribastos. I always lost. But if ever I meet the third best swordsman in Caribastos, he’s going to be in very deep trouble.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“It is imperfect. So are all things trapped in time. You are brilliant, nonetheless. How fortunate for Us that We thirst for glorious souls rather than faultless ones, or We should be parched indeed, and most lonely in Our perfect righteousness. Carry on imperfectly, shining Ista.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“innocence based in ignorance was unfit to protect itself.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“One learns better than to hand one’s choices to fear. With age, with every wound and scar, one learns.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“You have more years ahead of you now than Pejar, half your age, whom we buried outside these walls these two days past. Stand before his grave and use your gift of breath to complain of your limited time. If you dare.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“When the man arises who can make you laugh, solemn Ista, angry Ista, iron Ista, then will your heart be healed. You have not prayed for this: it’s a guerdon even the gods cannot give you. We are limited to such simples as redemption from your sins.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“slowing—“in our direst need, the smallest gifts: the nail of the horseshoe, the pin of the axle, the feather at the pivot point, the pebble at the mountain’s peak, the kiss in despair, the one right word. In darkness, understanding.” He”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“The gods give no gifts without hooks embedded.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“Welcome to my gates, Ista dy Chalion. I am the Mother of Jokona.” Her hand lifted from the girl’s head, flicked out, fingers spreading.

Within Ista, the god unfolded.

Her second sight burst anew upon Ista’s mind like a dazzling lightning stroke, brilliant beyond hope, revealing an eerie landscape. She saw it all, at one glance: the dozen demons, the swirling, crackling lines of power, the agonized souls, Joen’s dark, dense, writhing passenger. The thirteenth demon, spinning wildly through the air toward her, trailing its evil umbilicus.

Ista opened her jaws in a fierce grin, and took it in a gulp.

“Welcome to mine, Joen of Jokona,” said Ista. “I am the Mouth of Hell.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“All her old thoughts seemed as thin and ragged as a piece of knitting made and ripped out and made and ripped out again until all the threads were frayed, growing ever more worn, but never larger.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“Todos nosotros, cada uno, somos nuestras obras; al final de nuestras vidas presentamos nuestra alma a nuestro patrón como un artesano presenta el trabajo de sus manos.”
― Lois McMaster, Paladín de almas

“Welcome to mine, Joen of Jokona,” said Ista. “I am the Mouth of Hell.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“I am old enough to have many regrets. I’ve made my share of mistakes, some”—he grimaced—“hideous indeed, as you well know. But it was the little, easy things—the kisses I did not give, and the love I did not speak, because there was no time, no place—and then, no chance . . . Surprisingly sharp sorrows those are, for their size. I think all our chances grow narrow, tonight. So I shall reduce my regrets—however brief—by one, at least . . .”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“Loyalty must run two ways, else become betrayal in the egg.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“[T]he route of a pilgrimage should serve its spiritual goal. Which may be simple or manifold, but which will partake of at least one of five aims: service, supplication, gratitude, divination, and atonement.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“The world is ashes and the gods are a horror. Tell me, Learned, what other place is there for me to go?”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls

“Anyone who desires to see the gods face-to-face is a great fool,”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Paladin of Souls