No secrets

      I didn’t doubt his information — in a land of spies there are no secrets.


Flashman and the Mountain of Light, p.356, Fontana Paperback edition, 1991.



Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, secrets.

Silence and shrewdness

…silence frequently passes for shrewdness, and that while suppressio veri is a damned good servant, suggestio falsi is a perilous master, Selah.

Flashman and the Dragon, p.262, Fontana Paperback edition, 1986.



Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, shrewd.

Ruffian reporting tips

…you must convince your chiefs that what you’re telling ’em is important, which ain’t difficult, since they want to believe you, having chiefs of their own to satisfy; make as much mystery of your methods as you can; hint what a thoroughgoing ruffian you can be in a good cause, but never forget that innocence shines brighter than any virtue (“Flashman? Extraordinary fellow — kicks ’em in the crotch with the heart of a child)…

Flashman and the Dragon, p.262, Fontana Paperback edition, 1986.


Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, reporting.

Flashman's pricipal aim

The principal aim, remember, is to win the greatest possible credit to yourself, which calls for not only the exclusion of anything that might damage you, but also for the judicious understatement of those things which tell in your favour, if any; brush’em aside, never boast, let appearances speak for themselves.

Flashman and the Dragon, p.262, Fontana Paperback edition, 1986.


Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, reporting.

Reporting know-how

      Survival apart, the great thing in intelligence work is knowing how to report.



Flashman and the Dragon, p.262, Fontana Paperback edition, 1986.


Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, intelligence.

Military intelligence, Flashman style

Intelligence work is nuts to me* , so long as I can stay close to bed, bottle and breakfast and don’t have to venture out.


*Not in the sense of crazy or unbalanced, but rather an enjoyable pursuit.

 
Flashman in the Great Game, p.246, Pan edition, 4th printing, 1979.



Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes.