Because when you’re really scared to do something … do it right away.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Challenge Decision Making Fear Resolve Science Fiction Strength Toughness

That’s it. Keep that edge. Fight like there’s no tomorrow.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Banshees Commandos Female Soldiers Military Science Fiction Motivation Science Fiction

You help us, they’ll lock you up for the rest of your life.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Civil War Elite Murder Mutiny Rebellion Resistence Science Fiction Scifi War

With all the god-awful suffering in this war, I suppose somebody ought to be enjoying it.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Bloodthirsty Rationalization Suffering War

Your people sell the weapons. My people use them.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Commerce Munitions Profiteering Survival War Wealth

He relaxed into the dirt, it was all right, he was infantry and the dirt was home. He felt warm liquid all over his left thigh and wondered if he’d peed himself, it didn’t matter, none of it mattered, the stars were out in the blackness overhead and that was where he was going.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Acceptance Bleeding Combat Death Loss Military Science Fiction Science Fiction Scifi War

It’s important to have a buddy like that. Somebody who’ll stop you from doing that really stupid thing you were gonna do just because you couldn’t think of anything better. -- unidentified soldier, eulogizing his dead buddy

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Eulogy Friendship Loss Science Fiction Survival War

A night in space can last a long time … or maybe it never ends.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Adventure Hallucination Military Science Fiction Science Fiction

Sergeant Tin said it would be easier to just call you Corporal. She said you go back and forth, promoted one day and busted the next.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Banshees Female Soldiers Military Military Science Fiction Misconduct Science Fiction Space War Survival

Therm-bombs! Drop ’em right on us! I been roasted before—it’s nothing!

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Aliens Artillery Banshees Bombing Danger Close Desperate Measures Science Fiction

Don't let 'em see they killed you!

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Dark Humor Encouragement Science Fiction Soldiers Troops Warfare

This is a Spartacan fighting knife. Heard of the Spartacan Scouts? Rough boys. This knife belonged to one of them. He died saving my life.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Combat Commandos Fighting Knife Military Science Fiction Sci Fi Fi Science Fiction Scifi Scouts

How long you been in the infantry, sir? Anything under ten miles counts as 'almost there'.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Infantry Military Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Opera

This is what I hate most about guys like you. You didn't even try.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Assassin Military Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Opera

Lieutenant Mortas is the black sheep of the family--I thought you knew that.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Infantry Military Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Opera Wedding

Nobody ever kills everybody anywhere, big man. Somebody always gets away.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Commando Science Fiction Sf Survival

I’ve had a lot of lieutenants over the years, and all the good ones were sick, sick individuals. You might be the best one yet.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Command Craziness Example Leadership Platoon Leader Platoon Sergeant Science Fiction War

Food’s the killer. The clock starts as soon as the troops are on the ground. You wouldn’t believe how fast they consume what they’re carrying, and then … if I don’t get them more, if I don’t find them more … they die.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Military Military Science Fiction Rations Science Fiction Starvation Supply Survival War

Some of the things that beat the shit out of you . . . can beat the bullshit out of you too.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Emergency Endurance Hike Perseverance Starvation Survival

Never diagnosed the enemy before.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Military Science Fiction Psychiatrist Psychoanalyst Survival War In Space

It’s a lot cleaner when Command kills you on purpose . . . than when they do it by accident.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Scout Space War Special Ops Survival War In Space

You can pray and fight at the same time, Corporal. Especially if you learn how before things get rough. It’s important to have a philosophy of life . . . and of death.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Conscience Conscientious Objector Space War Survival War In Space

Because if I ever get nailed, I don’t want you running out to get the same medicine. Believe me, if it’s you lying out there, I’m gonna make sure you’re alive before I go.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Banshees Camraderie Common Sense Female Soldiers Female Warriors Loyalty Prudence Sisterhood Space War

Good units walk a thin line between indiscipline and ineffectiveness. Ignore the rules too often and you’ve got a mob, but enforce the rules too strictly and you’ve got a herd.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Command Command Philosophy Discipline Effectiveness Leadership Organizational Behavior

Follow the plan until it goes to shit, and then kill everything that isn’t human.

~ Henry V. O'neil

Henry V. O'neil Banshees Battle Extremities Murphy S Law Plan Space Opera Space War War