Home > Author > Timothy Zahn

Timothy Zahn QUOTES

Timothy Zahn QUOTES

1 " Where there’s life, there’s the hope of change. "

― Timothy Zahn , Choices of One

2 " 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. "

― Timothy Zahn , Thrawn (Star Wars: Thrawn, #1)

3 " Governments and entire planets are important, Threepio. But when you sift everything down, they're all just made of people. "

― Timothy Zahn , Heir to the Empire (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, #1)

4 " Without trust, there can be no genuine peace. Neither in politics, nor in the quiet individuality of the heart and spirit. "

― Timothy Zahn , Vision of the Future (Star Wars: The Hand of Thrawn Duology, #2)

5 " Still, even when false, legends can be most informative. "

― Timothy Zahn , Thrawn (Star Wars: Thrawn, #1)

6 " She was here, and it was now; and as the emperor's instructors had so often drummed into her, the first item of business was to fit into her surroundings. And that meant not looking like an escapee from the medical ward "

― Timothy Zahn , The Last Command (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, #3)

7 " One of the first rules the Emperor had drummed into her [Mara Jade] so long ago was to blend in as best she could with her surroundings "

― Timothy Zahn , Dark Force Rising (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, #2)

8 " But she wasn't a serving girl in a Phorliss cantina this time, or a come-up flector for a swoop gang on Caprioril, or even a hyperdrive mechanic stuck in the backwater of the Ison Corridor. She was second in command to the most powerful smuggler in the galaxy, with the kind of resources and mobility she hadn't had since the death of the Emperor. [p] The kind of resources that would let her find Luke Skywalker again. And kill him "

― Timothy Zahn , Dark Force Rising (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, #2)

9 " Leave it to the Alderaanians to slap a cheery end on a nice little grisly children’s morality tale. "

― Timothy Zahn , Choices of One

10 " It is said that one should keep one's allies within view, and one's enemies within reach.
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.
But what of friends?
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. "

― Timothy Zahn , Thrawn (Star Wars: Thrawn, #1)

11 " All people have regrets. Warriors are no exceptions.
One would hope it was possible to distinguish between events caused by one's carelessness or lack of ability and those caused by circumstances or forces beyond a one's control. But in practice, there is no difference. All forms of regret sear equally into the mind and soul. All forms leave scars of equal bitterness.
And always, beneath the scar, lurks the thought and fear that there was something else that could have been done. Some action, or inaction, that would have changed things for the better. Such questions can sometimes be learned form. All to often, they merely add to the scar tissue.
A warrior must learn to set those regrets aside as best he can. Knowing full well that they will never be far away. "

― Timothy Zahn , Thrawn (Star Wars: Thrawn, #1)

12 " 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. "

― Timothy Zahn , Thrawn (Star Wars: Thrawn, #1)

13 " All beings begin their lives with hope and aspirations. Among these aspirations is the desire that there will be a straight path to those goals. It is seldom so. Perhaps never.
Sometimes the turns are of one's own volition, as one's thoughts and goals change over time. But more often the turns are mandated by outside forces.
It was so with me. The memory is vivid, unsullied by age: the five admirals rising from their chairs as I am escorted into the chamber. The decision of the Ascendancy has been made, and they are here to deliver it.
None of them is happy with the decision. I can read that in their faces. But they are officers and servants of the Chiss, and they will carry out their orders. Protocol alone demands that.
The word is as I expected.
Exile.
The planet has already been chosen. The Aristocra will assemble the equipment necessary to endure that solitude does not quickly become Death from predators or the elements.
I am led away. Once again, my path has turned.
Where it will lead, I cannot say. "

― Timothy Zahn

14 " A life path may change because of important decisions or events. Those were what drove my current path.
But sometimes the smallest event can also drive a turn. In the case of Eli Vanto, that force was a single, overheard word.
Chiss. Where had Cadet Vanto heard that name? What did it mean to him? He had already spoken one reason, but there might well be others. Indeed, the full truth might have several layers. But what were they?
On a ship as large as this, there was only one practical way to find out.
Thus did my path take yet another turn. As, certainly, did his. "

― Timothy Zahn , Thrawn (Star Wars: Thrawn, #1)

15 " War is a primarily a game of skill. It is a Contest of mind matched against mind, tactics matched against tactics.
But there is also an element of chance that is more suited to games of cards or dice. A wise tactician studies those games, as well, and learns from them.
The first lesson of card games is that the cards cannot be played in random order. Only when laid down properly can victory be achieved.
In this case, there were but three cards.
The first was played at the encampment. The result was entrance to the Strikefast. The second was played aboard ship. The result was promise of passage to Coruscant, and the assignment of Cadet Vanto as my translator.
The third was a name: Anakin Skywalker. "

― Timothy Zahn , Thrawn (Star Wars: Thrawn, #1)

16 " I've found that what most people call luck is often little more than raw talent combined with the ability to make the most of opportunities. (Talon Karrde) "

― Timothy Zahn , Heir to the Empire (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, #1)

17 " If you accept the position of governor, part of your job is to make sure all your people have a decent shot at making something good out of their lives. "

― Timothy Zahn , Choices of One

18 " If you don't want to be noticed, you don't use a Star Destroyer. "

― Timothy Zahn , Heir to the Empire (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, #1)

19 " You're not the last of the old Jedi, Luke, you're the first of the new "

― Timothy Zahn , Heir to the Empire (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, #1)

20 " When you understand a species' art, you understand that species. "

― Timothy Zahn , Heir to the Empire (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, #1)