Timothy Zahn Quotes

“It is said that one should keep one’s allies within view, and one’s enemies within reach.”

“the best path didn’t have to be quick as long as it was correct.”

“It is never wrong to be curious. But it can sometimes be dangerous.”

“Failure to act always brings consequences. But sometimes, those consequences can be turned to one’s advantage.”

“A great tactician creates plans. A good tactician recognizes the soundness of a plan presented to him. A fair tactician must see the plan succeed before offering approval. Those with no tactical ability at all may never understand or accept it. Nor”

“A friend need not be kept either within sight or within reach. A friend must be allowed the freedom to find and follow his own path. If one is fortunate, those paths will for a time join. But if the paths separate, it is comforting to know that a friend still graces the universe with his skills, and his viewpoint, and his presence. For if one is remembered by a friend, one is never truly gone.”

“There are things in the universe that are simply and purely evil. A warrior does not seek to understand them, or to compromise with them. He seeks only to obliterate them.”

“No battle plan can anticipate all contingencies. There are always unexpected factors including those stemming from the opponent’s initiative. A battle must thus becomes a balance between plan and improvisation, between error and correction. It is a narrow line. But it is a line one’s opponent must also walk. For all the balance of experience and cleverness, it is often the warrior who acts quickest who will prevail.”

A valid statement. One must be able to read an ally’s strengths, so as to determine how to best use them. One must similarly be able to read his enemy’s weaknesses, so as to determine how to best defeat him.

There is no accepted answer, perhaps true friendship is so exceedingly rare. But I had formulated my own.

A friend need not be kept within sight or within reach. A friend must be allowed the freedom to find and follow his own path. If one is fortunate, those paths will for a time join. But if paths separate, it is comforting to know that a friend still graces the universe with his skills, and his viewpoint, and his present. For if one is remembered by a friend, one is never truly gone.”

“Still, even when false, legends can be most informative.”