'I can't have your subjects throwing my family over the balcony, that would never do.' 'Good,' said Snibril. 'I'll do it myself.'

When they're standing right in front of you, kings are a kind of speech impediment.

'Whose side are they on?' said Brocando. 'Sides? Their own, I suppose, just like everyone else.'

Anyway, just because you're sworn enemies doesn't mean you can't be friends, does it?

There is much to be said for personal violence. Even Joan Baez flattens velvet, when she sits down.

Violence, less and less embarrassed by the limits imposed by centuries of lawfulness, is brazenly and victoriously striding across the whole world, unconcerned…

Our men taking part in the executions suffered more from nervous exhaustion than those who were to be shot.