Quotessence
Home / Books / Flashman

Flashman

Book by George MacDonald Fraser · 5 quotes · Achilles, Ajax, Ancient Greece

Filter quotes by topic

AllAchillesAjaxAncient GreeceArmyBreechesCurryFailureFlashmanGreek HeroesHeroHumorMannnersMartialityMilitaryScarecrowsStupidityTargetsVulnerabilityWar

Flashman Quotes

“But I still state unhesitatingly, that for pure, vacillating stupidity, for superb incompetence to command, for ignorance combined with bad judgment --in short, for the true talent for catastrophe -- Elphy Bey stood alone. Others abide our question, but Elphy outshines them all as the greatest military idiot of our own or any other day. Only he could have permitted the First Afghan War and let it develop to such ruinous defeat. It was not easy: he started with a good army, a secure position, some excellent officers, a disorganized enemy, and repeated opportunities to save the situation. But Elphy, with the touch of true genius, swept aside these obstacles with unerring precision, and out of order wrought complete chaos. We shall not, with luck, look upon his like again.”

MilitaryFailureArmyStupidity
Book:Flashman
Create image

“I recognized the handwriting, and my heart gave a skip; when I opened it I got a turn, for it began, 'To my beloved Hector,' and I thought, by God she's cheating on me, and has sent me the wrong letter by mistake. But in the second line was a reference to Achilles, and another to Ajax, so I understood she was just addressing me in terms which she accounted fitting for a martial paladin; she knew no better. It was a common custom at that time, in the more romantic females, to see their soldier husbands and sweethearts as Greek heroes, instead of the whore-mongering, drunken clowns most of them were. However, the Greek heroes were probably no better, so it was not far off the mark.”

HeroAchillesAncient GreeceAjaxGreek HeroesMartiality
Book:Flashman
Create image

“Is it always like this?” I asked. “What is it?” “What is the dish, your grace?” asked the wit. “Why, it’s called curry, don’t you know? Kills the taste of old meat.” “If that’s all it kills, I’m surprised,” says I, disgusted. “No decent human being could stomach this filth.” “We stomach it,” said another. “Ain’t we human beings?” “You know best about that,” I said. “If you take my advice you’ll hang your cook.”

HumorCurryFlashman
Book:Flashman
Create image