The Ringed Castle Quotes.

1. "Not to every young girl is it given to enter the harem of the Sultan of Turkey and return to her homeland a virgin."
- Dorothy Dunnett, The Ringed Castle

2. "And deep within him, missing its accustomed tread, his heart paused, and gave one single stroke, as if on an anvil."
- Dorothy Dunnett, The Ringed Castle

3. "Verily, God hath eighteen thousand worlds; and verily, your world is one of them, and this its bright axle-tree."
- Dorothy Dunnett, The Ringed Castle

4. "Of all the homes I have known, yours has been a shining model of wisdom and kindness and honesty. For what you and your mother have done in the past, for me and for the child, I owe you a profound debt of honour. You have that claim on me. So has your mother. But if you press it too far; if you will accept no appeal and continue to press it, over and over; if you move into my life, both of you, and take your stance there and feel obliged to command and instruct me in how I should or should not behave, you will destroy our relationship. I shall walk away from you both; I shall deny you both; I shall repudiate all you have done for me. It will all be as if it had never happened … I don’t know what you fear for me, but that you should fear. For I cannot afford it."
- Dorothy Dunnett, The Ringed Castle

5. "Yes, gentlemen: said Philippa impatiently, and seizing a stout wooden heading axe, let it fall on the next person who passed. It was Lymond. He dropped to his knees, his hands covering the nape of his neck, his skin flushed with laughter. Philippa, lowering the axe, said, ‘I have never in the whole of my life seen you laugh before.’ He looked up at the red sock, still gasping. ‘Now that,’ he said, ‘is ridiculous. Although, now you mention it, I didn’t laugh last time it happened. Hit d’Harcourt on the head and see if he laughs."
- Dorothy Dunnett, The Ringed Castle

6. "You have not yet discovered what happens to Russians at sea.’ ‘The same thing, I suppose, that happens to Englishmen,’ Chancellor said. ‘Scots, I take it, are immune.’ ‘To sarcasm, yes,’ Lymond said."
- Dorothy Dunnett, The Ringed Castle

7. "Don’t be so sensitive,’ he said, faintly chiding. ‘It makes everyday commerce most trying."
- Dorothy Dunnett, The Ringed Castle

8. "If you will excuse us?’ ‘Go to Sir Henry’s room,’ Lady Mary called after her. ‘And if you use weapons, be sure to call witnesses."
- Dorothy Dunnett, The Ringed Castle

9. "Are you by any chance …’ said Lymond. ‘… baiting you?’ Philippa said. ‘Only when you are inclined to be magisterial.’ ‘Oh, good God,’ Lymond said. ‘Kate must be out of her mind.’ ‘And thank heaven you aren’t my father?’ said Philippa. ‘Roughly,’ said Lymond, and began to laugh, and then stopped."
- Dorothy Dunnett, The Ringed Castle

10. "And a capable feminine voice, directed past Austin Grey’s ear to his opponent, said baldly, ‘Hit him.’ Lymond, already balanced on the upswing to hurl himself forward, dropped his arm and said, with dawning reproof, ‘I was going to.’ ‘I know,’ said Philippa. ‘And it’ll take half an hour and end with an audience. Hit him.’ Under her hands, Austin Grey suddenly struggled. ‘Hit him!’ said Philippa sharply. ‘It’s the only way he can stop now, with honour.’ Which was not only perceptive, but practical. So Lymond hit him."
- Dorothy Dunnett, The Ringed Castle