Gripping Master Starnberg

...what was gripping Master Starnberg was the sheer wanton delight in killing, of adding my distinguished head to his trophy room, of proving his mastery and seeing the fear in the eyes of a beaten opponent at his mercy — I know all about it, you see, for I 've enjoyed it myself, but while it's a luxury the wary coward can afford, it's a weakness in a brave man who's sure of his own superiority, for he forgets what your cold-blooded assassin (and your coward) never forget — that killing is a business, not a pleasure, and you must keep your sense of fun well in check.


Flashman and the Tiger, p.149, Harper Collins, paperback edition 2000.


Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, killing.

The partner of my fate

“But what have I to fear,” cries he, with a great idiot laugh, “when the bravest soldier of the British Army, the partner of my fate, is by my side?”
      A great deal, I could have told him, if Bismarck's bullies were after him; he'd find himself relying on the communications cord.


Flashman and the Tiger, p.41, Harper Collins, paperback edition 2000.


Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, fear.

Too often to doubt

I’d never seen a pukka battle, or the way a seasoned commander (even one as daft as Paddy Gough) can manage an army, or the effect of centuries of training and discipline, or that other phenomenon which I still don’t understand but which I’ve watched too often to doubt: the British peasant looking death in the face, and hitching his belt, and waiting.


Flashman and the Mountain of Light, p.210, Fontana Paperback edition, 1991.



Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, death.

Son of Flashman

He acted like me, he thought like me, and take the paint and braids off him, and by God he looked like me: even the red skin was just weather, and I’ve been darker myself out east. If there was a difference, it was that I suspected (after Greasy Grass) he was brave, poor lad. I think he probably was; got that from Cleonie’s side, no doubt. As to his deep nature, though, I can’t tell; I doubt if he was as big a blackguard as I am, but then he was only half my age. And being so like me, he undoubtedly had the gift of concealing his character.

Flashman and the Redskins, p.342, Pan Books edition, 1983.

Tags:Flashman, Flashman quotes, son.

Brave in buckskin

I raised an eyebrow myself when the boy general arrived a few days later, all brave in fringed buckskin and red scarf over his uniform, but with a face like a two-day corpse.

Flashman and the Redskins, p.288, Pan Books edition, 1983.

Tags:Flashman, Flashman quotes, face.

Brave, cheery and deadly

      ‘Sea Dyaks,’ says Stuart. ‘The bravest, cheeriest folk you’ll ever see – fight like tigers, cruel as the grave, but loyal as Swiss.’

Flashman's Lady, p.130, Pan edition, 1979.

Tags:Flashman, Flashman quotes, Iban.

Thou art no fool

      Ilderim glanced at me witheringly, and bit his nail in scorn.
      ‘Bloody Lance,’ says he, ‘ye may be as the bravest rider in the British Army and God knows thou art no fool – but with women thou art a witless infant.’

Flashman in the Great Game, p.173, Pan edition, 4th printing, 1979.

Tags:
Flashman, Flashman quotes, witless.

This New England upbringing

Humanity never ceases to amaze me. Here was this fine lad, old enough to vote, in command of a hundred men and a fighting ship which he could handle like a young Nelson, brave as a bull, I don’t doubt – and quivering like a virgin’s fan because a buxom tart had invaded his cabin. It’s this New England upbringing, of course; even a young manhood spent in naval service hadn’t obliterated the effect of all those sermons.

Flash For Freedom!, p.122, Pan edition, 8th printing, 1980.

Tags:
Flashman, Flashman quotes.

Insults of an enemy

‘The insults of an enemy are a tribute to the brave,’ laughs he.

Flashman, p.181, Pan edition, 12th printing, 1979.

Tags:
Flashman, Flashman quotes.

A first-class drill sergeant

They say he was brave. He was not. He was just stupid, too stupid ever to be afraid. Fear is an emotion, and his emotions were all between his knees and his breastbone; they never touched his reason, and he had little enough of that.
For all that he could never be called a bad soldier. some human faults are military virtues, like stupidity, and arrogance, and narrow mindedness. Cardigan blended all three with a passion for detail and accuracy; he was a perfectionist, and the manual of cavalry drill was his Bible. Whatever rested between the covers of that book he could perform, or cause to be performed, with marvellous efficiency, and God help anyone who marred that performance. He would have made a first-class drill sergeant..."



Flashman, pp. 29-30, Pan edition, 12th printing, 1979.

Tags:
Flashman, James Brudenell, Lord Cardigan.