James Clavell Quotes

First the priests arrive. Then the conquistadores.

~ James Clavell

Why is she afraid? he asked. She's not Anjin-san. Just a little nervous. Please excuse her. She's never seen a foreigner close to before. Tell her when the moon's full, barbarians sprout horns and fire comes out of our mouths like dragons.

~ James Clavell

Without trade the world will become what it was once—a hell where only the strongest arm and the heaviest lash was law. The meek will never inherit the earth. Aye, but at least they can be protected by law to live out their lives as they wish.

~ James Clavell

Listen, if you want peace you must learn to drink cha from an empty cup.

~ James Clavell

What is pain to a man? A privilege!

~ James Clavell

...to think bad thoughts is really the easiest thing in the world. If you leave your mind to itself it will spiral you down into the ever-increasing unhappiness. To think good thoughts, however,requires effort. This is one of the things that discipline - training - is about. So, train your mind to dwell on sweet perfumes...

~ James Clavell

The sun dances in her and she has an immense joy of life

~ James Clavell

It's a saying they have, that a man has a false heart in his mouth for the world to see, another in his breast to show to his special friends and his family, and the real one, the true one, the secret one, which is never known to anyone except to himself alone, hidden only God knows where.

~ James Clavell

Gods are like people. They believe anything if you tell them right way.

~ James Clavell

Always remember, child... that to think bad thoughts is really the easiest thing in the world. If you leave your mind to itself it will spiral you down into ever increasing unhappiness. To think good thoughts, however, requires effort. This is one onf the things that discipline - training - is about.

~ James Clavell

Patience is important for a man, vital for a leader

~ James Clavell

Only a real man has the right to stand at the pinnacle.

~ James Clavell

That's the first rule of survival in enemy waters: volunteer nothing.

~ James Clavell

When a man's pride is injured, death is a small price to repay the insult.

~ James Clavell

And Adam ruled, for he was the King. Until the day his will to be King deserted him. Then he died, food for a stronger. And the strongest was always the King, not by strength alone, but King by cunning and luck and strength together. Among the rats.

~ James Clavell

Only merchants have money to waste, and what are they but parasites who create nothing, grow nothing, make nothing but feed off another's labor?

~ James Clavell

Fallibility in a leader is very trying. Isn’t it? They spill so much of other people’s blood.

~ James Clavell

Perhaps that is why we love life so much, Anjin-san. You see, we have to. Death is part of our air and see and earth.

~ James Clavell

So easy now that Elder Sister has explained to her what all young girls in houses are taught—that with care and meticulous acting and tears of pretended pain and fear, and the final modest telltale stains cautiously placed, a girl can, if necessary, be virgin ten times for ten different men.

~ James Clavell

God gives us intelligence to uncover the wonders of nature. Without the gift, nothing is possible.

~ James Clavell

The search for the truth is the most important work in the whole world, and the most dangerous.

~ James Clavell