Runs in the family

     Cassel shook his head. ‘It’s hard to believe, perhaps, that he knew a man who fought in the last revolution in these islands. His own Grandfather served against the Jacobites at Culloden. I say served — in fact, according to Flashman, his grandfather ran screaming from the field at the first shot, and didn’t stop running till he reached Inverness.’



Mr American, p.198, Pan Books, paperback edition 1982.


Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, Culloden.

Like an elderly ghost

      It’s a strange thing, but however funky you may be — and I’ll take all comers in that line — once you’re moving there’s a kind of controlled panic that guides your feet; I went up those stairs like an elderly ghost . . .


Flashman and the Tiger, p.305, Harper Collins, paperback edition 2000.



Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, panic.

No, hardly

I didn’t doubt he’d called me a coward, you understand, but it ain’t the kind of thing a fellow says by way of social chat over the tea-cups is it? “Ah, Lady Flashman, delightful weather, is it not? And did you enjoy The Gondoliers? Such jolly tunes! No, I fear the dear Bishop’s health is not what it was . . . by the by, did I never tell you, your husband’s a bloody poltroon who ran screaming from Isa’Iwana? Oh, you hadn’t heard . . . ?” No, hardly.


Flashman and the Tiger, p.265, Harper Collins, paperback edition 2000.


Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, coward.

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.

Scout first

Coward’s instinct if you like, but if I’m still here and in good health, bar my creaky kidneys and a tendency to wind, it’s because I shy at motes, never mind beams — and I don’t walk straight in where I can scout first.

Flashman and the Mountain of Light, p.172, Fontana Paperback edition, 1991.



Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, scout.

Simple and shrewd

They were an odd lot, those frontiersmen, simple and shrewd enough, and as easy—and as difficult—to impose upon as children are. But I was glad Wootton would be our guide; being a true-bred rascal and coward myself, I know a good man when I see one—and he was the best.

Flashman and the Redskins, p.63, Pan Books edition, 1983.

Tags:Flashman, Flashman quotes, frontiersmen.

Stretched my legs

There are moments in life which defy description…. The last minute at Balaclava, the moment the Welsh broke at Little Hand Rock and the Zulus came bounding over our position, the breaching of Piper’s fort gate, the neck-or-nothing race for Reno’s Bluff with the Sioux braves running among the shattered rabble of Custer’s Seventh – I’ve stretched my legs in all of those, knowing I was going to die, and being damned noisy at the prospect.

Flashman's Lady, p.185, Pan edition, 1979.

Tags:Flashman, Flashman quotes, noisy.

When the danger is past

That’s another thing about being a windy beggar – if you scare easily, you usually cheer up just as fast when the danger is past.

Flashman in the Great Game, pp.174-5, Pan edition, 4th printing, 1979.

Tags:
Flashman, Flashman quotes, coward.

The Flashman reputation

As so often in the past, I was the victim of my own glorious and entirely unearned reputation – Flashy, the hero of Jallalabad, the last man out of the Kabul retreat and the first man into the Balaclava battery, the beau sabreur of the Light Cavalry, Queen’s Medal, Thanks of Parliament, darling of the mob, with a liver as yellow as yesterday’s custard.

Flashman in the Great Game, p.36, Pan edition, 4th printing, 1979.

Tags:
Flashman, Flashman quotes,reputation, beau sabreur.

As only a coward can

I detested her in that moment, as only a coward can when he hears the truth to his face.

Flashman at the Charge, p.283, Pan edition, 5th printing, 1979.

Tags:
Flashman, Flashman quotes,coward, detest.

Seeking sorrow and raving heroically

The terrible thing was that I remembered the battle very clearly, and my own incredible behaviour – I knew I’d gone bawling about like a Viking in drink, seeking sorrow and raving heroically in murderous rage, but I couldn’t for the life of me understand why. It had been utterly against nature, instinct and judgement – and I knew it hadn’t been booze, because I hadn’t had any, and anyway the liquor hadn’t been distilled that could make me oblivious of self-preservation. It appalled me, for what security does a right-thinking coward have, if he loses his sense of panic?

Flashman at the Charge, pp.281-2, Pan edition, 5th printing, 1979.

Tags:
Flashman, Flashman quotes,viking, coward.

No thank'ee

As one of the former bright particular stars of the cavalry, who had covered himself with glory from Kabul to the Khyber, and been about the only man to charge in the right direction at Chillianwallah (a mistake, mind you), I wouldn’t be able to say, ‘No, thank’ee, I think I’ll sit out this time.’ Not and keep any credit, anyway. And credit’s the thing, if you’re as big a coward as I am, and want to enjoy life with an easy mind.

Flashman at the Charge, p.12, Pan edition, 5th printing, 1979.

Tags:
Flashman, Flashman quotes,cavalry, Chillianwallah.

Dangerous as sharks

They are rare, but they do exist, and you can only call them adventurers. Rudi was one; it was the excitement, the mischief, that he lived for, more than the reward; the game not the prize. Mad as hatters, mark you, and as dangerous as sharks – they are not to be judged by the standards of yellow-bellies like me. Flashy don’t want anything to do with ‘em, but he knows how their minds work.

Royal Flash, p.219, Pan edition, 8th printing, 1978.

Tags:
Flashman, Flashman quotes.

An impressive collection

Sapten whistled softly when he saw my scars… It was an impressive collection – and even though most of them were in the rear, they weren’t the kind of decorations you normally see on a coward.

Royal Flash, p.204, Pan edition, 8th printing, 1978.

Tags:
Flashman, Flashman quotes,scars.

Coward, hypocrite, backslider

…if I hesitated, or argued, or did anything but accept at once they would rule me out immediately for a coward and a hypocrite and a backslider. And then it would be the Newgate hornpipe for Flashy, with the whole damn crew of Sons of the Volsungs hauling on the rope.

Royal Flash, p.202, Pan edition, 8th printing, 1978.

Tags:
Flashman, Flashman quotes,backslider.

Wisely observed

Cowards, as Shakespeare has wisely observed, die many times before their deaths, but not many of them can have expired in spirit more often than I.

Royal Flash, p.192, Pan edition, 8th printing, 1978.

Tags:
Flashman, Flashman quotes.

Sticks and stones

And I went back to work on him. I confess that I thoroughly enjoyed it, as only a true coward can, for only your coward and bully really understand how terrible pain can be.

Royal Flash, p.180, Pan edition, 8th printing, 1978.

Tags:
Flashman, Flashman quotes.

A coward and a scoundrel

Some of you will hold up your hands in horror that a Queen’s officer could behave like this, and before his soldiers, too. To which I would reply that I do not claim, as I’ve said already, to be anything but a coward and a scoundrel, and I’ve never play-acted when it seems pointless.


Flashman, p.230, Pan edition, 12th printing, 1979.



Tags:
Flashman, Flashman quotes,coward, scoundrel.

It costs nothing

Well, I am a poltroon myself, but this was ridiculous; it costs nothing to make a show, when all is said.

Flashman, p.161, Pan edition, 12th printing, 1979.

Tags:
Flashman, Flashman quotes,poltroon, coward.