Scott Lynch, The Lies of Locke Lamora
15 quotes
"If reassurances could dull pain, nobody would ever go to the trouble of pressing grapes."
"Locke sighed.'So this is winning,' he said.'It is,' replied Jean. 'It can go fuck itself,' said Locke."
"What thief does not fight to hold what he has?""One that has something better" - Locke Lamora to the Gray king"
"My name's Jean Tannen, and I'm the ambush."
"Gods, I love this place," Locke said, drumming his fingers against his thighs. "Sometimes I think this whole city was put here simply because the gods must adore crime. Pickpockets rob the common folk, merchants rob anyone they can dupe, Capa Barsavi robs the robbers and the common folk, the lesser nobles rob nearly everyone, and Duke Nicovante occasionally runs off with his army and robs the shit out of Tal Verarr or Jerem, not to mention what he does to his own nobles and his common folk."
"I thought we were celebrating being richer and cleverer than everyone else!"
"Yes," said Locke."Yes, Master Ibelius. I'm going to put that fucker in the dirt as deeply as any man who's ever been murdered, ever since the world began."
"For Calo, Galdo, and Bug"
"In a fair fight, the don's man would almost certainly paint the walls with Locke and Calo's blood, so it stood to reason that this fight would have to be as unfair as possible."
"A glass poured to air for the one who sits with us unseen; the patron and protector, the Crooked Warden, the Father of Necessary Pretexts. Thanks for deep pockets poorly guarded. Thanks for watchmen asleep at their posts. Thanks for the city to nurture us and the night to hide us. Thanks for friends to help us spend the loot."
"To us — richer and cleverer than everyone else!"
"The more in control the mark thinks they are, the more easily the respond to real control."
"You’ll pardon me,” he finally said, “if the suggestion that the minuscule black turnip you call a heart is suddenly overflowing with generosity toward me leaves me wanting to arm myself and put my back against a wall."
"Gentlemen Bastards." hissed Locke, "do not abandon one another, and we do not run when we owe vengeance."
"We’re a different sort of thief here, Lamora. Deception and misdirection are our tools. We don’t believe in hard work when a false face and a good line of bullshit can do so much more."