The Mountains of Mourning Quotes

“Miles had sworn his officer's oath to the Emperor less than two weeks ago, puffed with pride at his achievement. In his secret mind he had imagined himself keeping that oath through blazing battle, enemy torture, what-have-you, even while sharing cynical cracks afterwards with Ivan about archaic dress swords and the sort of people who insisted on wearing them.

But in the dark of subtler temptations, those that hurt without heroism for consolation, he foresaw, the Emperor would no longer be the symbol of Barrayar in his heart.

Peace to you, small lady, he thought to Raina. You've won a twisted poor modern knight, to wear your favor on his sleeve. But it's a twisted poor world we were both born into, that rejects us without mercy and ejects us without consultation. At least I won't just tilt at windmills for you. I'll send in sappers to mine the twirling suckers, and blast them into the sky....

He knew who he served now. And why he could not quit. And why he must not fail.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Mountains of Mourning

“Miles gathered his reins, tensed one calf, and shifted his weight slightly, and Fat Ninny responded with a neat half turn and two precise back steps. The thick-set roan gelding could not have been mistaken by the most ignorant urbanite for a fiery steed, but Miles adored him, for his dark and liquid eye, his wide velvet nose, his phlegmatic disposition equally unappalled by rushing streams or screaming aircars, but most of all for his exquisite dressage-trained responsiveness. Brains before beauty. Just being around him made Miles calmer; the beast was an emotional blotter, like a purring cat. Miles patted Fat Ninny on the neck. "If anybody asks," he murmured, "I'll tell them your name is Chieftain." Fat Ninny waggled one fuzzy ear, heaving a whooshing, barrel-chested sigh. Grandfather”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Mountains of Mourning

“But I know you have courage, and I know you have will. The rest is just picking yourself up and ramming into the wall again and again until it falls down. You get a bloody forehead, so what? You can do it, I swear you can.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Mountains of Mourning

“That's nickering, not snickering." Miles grinned. He tapped Fat Ninny behind his left foreleg, and the horse obediently grunted down onto one knee. Miles clambered up readily to his conveniently lowered stirrup. "Does mine do that?" asked Dr. Dea, watching with fascination. "Sorry, no." Dea glowered at his horse. "This animal is an idiot. I shall lead it for a while." As”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Mountains of Mourning

“Miles considered the peculiarities of Barrayaran law as he wandered about the clearing, watching the stream and the light, turning over an occasional rock with the toe of his boot. The fundamental principle was clear; the spirit was to be preferred over the letter, truth over technicalities. Precedent was held subordinate to the judgment of the man on the spot. Alas, the man on the spot was himself. There was no refuge for him in automated rules, no hiding behind the law says as if the law were some living overlord with a real Voice. The only voice here was his own.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Mountains of Mourning

“I'm not so in love with facts as I used to be. Sometimes, they bite.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Mountains of Mourning

“It's easy for the central authorities to make the rules, but these people have to live every minute of the consequences.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Mountains of Mourning

“Damned technocrats. Nothing but horse doctors with a more expensive set of toys.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Mountains of Mourning

“Los detalles corroboraban lo que ella decía que era, y eso se agregaba a una sensación sólida, aunque subliminal, de algo cierto que tal vez escapaba a la paranoia profesional de los que trabajan en seguridad”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Mountains of Mourning