113 Quotes by Iain M. Banks

[He] just wants [...] forgiveness?""Sma, given all the things Zakalwe’s done, just since we’ve known him, they’d have to invent a personal deity for him alone, to even start forgiving him."Sma turned away to look at the blank screen again. She shook her head and said quietly, "It doesn’t work that way, Skaffen-Amtiskaw."Or any other way, the drone thought to itself, but didn’t say anything.

It was clear that the delight being taken...was not the vicarious pleasure of watching people enjoying themselves and identifying with them, but in seeing people being humiliated while others enjoyed themselves at their expense.

Mocking the wisdom that comes with age is a fit sport only for those who expect never to attain much of it themselves

You might call them soft, because they’re very reluctant to kill, and they might agree with you, but they’re soft the way the ocean is soft, and, well; ask any sea captain how harmless and puny the ocean can be.

Just because that was the start of a thousand sentimental stories didn’t mean that it didn’t actually happen.