An expert to boot

      You see, we poltroons have a talent for spotting heroes — we have to, in order to steer well clear of them — and from what I learned from Henty, who sat by me at tiffin, Speedy was a prime specimen, and an expert to boot.


Flashman on the March, p.35, Harper Collins, paperback edition 2005.


Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, heroes.

A cool half million

           If you’ve read my previous memoirs you’ll know me better than Speedicut did, and won’t share his misgivings about trusting me with a cool half million in silver. Old Flash may be a model of the best vices — lechery, treachery, poltroonery, deceit and dereliction of duty, all present and correct, as you know, and they’re not the half of it — but larceny ain’t his style at all.


Flashman on the March, p.15, Harper Collins, paperback edition 2005.



Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, larceny.

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.

Academic admiration

Like most poltroons, I have a sneaking inward regard for truly fearless, strong men, fools though they may be, and I can have an academic admiration for real skill, so long as I don’t suffer by it.

Royal Flash, p.41, Pan edition, 8th printing, 1978.

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Flashman, Flashman quotes.

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.