Play it easy and modest

…I watched with approval, for I knew this game of old, having played it myself a hundred times in the days when I was being hero-worshipped. It’s almost a ritual: they flatter you by praising your words or actions, and you play it easy and modest, but just giving a hint every now and then, in a humorous way, what a desperate fellow you are, because that’s what they love above all.


Flashman and the Angel of the Lord, pp.214-15, Harper Collins, 1995.



Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, hero.

A journalistic law

… it’s a journalistic law, you see, that heroes can never do anything ordinary; when Flashy, the Hector of Afghanistan, beats a reluctant retreat, there must be an army howling at his heels, or the public cancel their subscription.



Flashman and the Mountain of Light, pp.335-36, Fontana Paperback edition, 1991.



Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, journalism.

God save the flash cove

There I turned and waved, for the last time, and wondered why people will make such a fuss over royalty. It’s the same with us; we have our tubby little Teddy, whom everyone pretends is the first gentleman of Europe, with all the virtues, when they know quite well he’d just a vicious old rake – rather like me, but lacking my talent for being agreeable to order. Anyway, I was aboard Lily Langtry long before he was.

Royal Flash, p.152, Pan edition, 8th printing, 1978.

Tags:
Flashman, Flashman quotes,King Edward VI, Lillie Langtry.