A man must be prepared to face life, as well as death, there's no escape from either.
Once, I remember, Father Abbot said that our purpose is justice, and with God lies the privilege of mercy. But even God, when he intends mercy, needs tools to his hand.
Men drunk with ambition and power do not ground their weapons, nor stop to recognise the fellow-humanity of those they are about to slay. - Pg. 2
If none of us ever fell short, or put a foot astray, everything would be good in this great world, but we stumble and fall, every one. We must deal with what we have." - Cadfael, Pg. 245-6
Innocence is an infinitely fragile thing and thought can sometimes injure, even destroy it. - Pg. 254
They sell courage of a sort in the taverns. And another sort, though not for sale, a man can find in the confessional. Try the alehouses and the churches, Hugh. In either a man can be quiet and think.
What are wits for unless a man uses them?
One century's saint is the next century's heretic ... and one century's heretic is the next century's saint. It is as well to think long and calmly before affixing either name to any man.
In the end there is nothing to be done but to state clearly what has been done, without shame or regret, and say: Here I am, and this is what I am. Now deal with me as you see fit. That is your right. Mine is to stand by the act, and pay the price. Y...
The voices of cold reason were talking, as usual, to deaf ears.
Bitter though it may be to many, Cadfael concluded, there is no substitute for truth, in this or any case.
Don't reach for the halo too soon. You have plenty of time to enjoy yourself, even a little maliciously sometimes, before you settle down to being a saint.
Only people who're positive enough to have friends have enemies. When you're as glum and morose as he was, people just give up and go away.
I have always known that the best of the Saracens could out-Christian many of us Christians.
Oh, sometimes I like to put the sand of doubt into the oyster of my faith." (Br. Cadfael)
I think there are some who live on a knife-edge in the soul, and at times are driven to hurl themselves into the air, at the mercy of heaven or he'll which way to fall.
Meet every man as you find him, for we're all made the same under habit, robe or rags. Some better made than others, and some better cared for, but on the same pattern, all.
It's a kind of arrogance to be so certain you're past redemption.
When harried, we go as far as we dare, and with those we're sure of we dare go very far, knowing where forgiveness is certain.
God, nevertheless, required a little help from men, and what he mostly got was hindrance.
