Quote #29

'What are your fees?' inquired Guyal cautiously. 'I respond to three questions,' stated the augur. 'For twenty terces I phrase the answer in clear and actionable language; for ten I use the language of cant, which occasionally admits of ambiguity; for five, I speak a parable which you must interpret as you will; and for one terce, I babble in an unknown tongue.' - From 'Guyal of Sfere', The Dying Earth.

More from Jack Vance

  1. 'Excellent; all is well. The 'everlasting tedium' exactly countervenes the 'immediate onset of death' and I am left only with the 'canker' …
  2. I also am of noble blood, or so it seems to me. - Orlo
  3. 'What is all this commotion? Gookin, why do you lie among the cheeses?' Twango from Cugel's Saga
  4. A notable scheme has occurred to me. - Orlo
  5. 'The folk are peculiar in many ways,' said Erwig. 'They preen themselves upon the gentility of their habits, yet they refuse to whitewash t…
  6. Naturally! That is the whole point of robbery: to acquire the victim's valuables! - Long Liam the Barber
  7. 'So then: onward to Lumarth, and let meticulous discretion be the slogan!' - Shimilko, in 'The Seventeen Virgins' from Cugel's Saga
  8. You have frightened and daunted me. I will stop stealing at once. - Dhrun

All Jack Vance quotes