John Flanagan: If they invent a four legged chicken," Will said, "Hora...

But what if I make a mistake?' Will asked. Gilan threw back his head and laughed. 'A mistake? One mistake? You should be so lucky. You'll make dozens! I made four or five on my first day alone! Of course you'll make mistakes. Just don't make any of them twice. If you do mess things up, don't try to hide it. Don't try to rationalize it. Recognize it and admit it and learn from it. We never stop learning, none of us.

John Flanagan

what-if learning mistake

Idiots, Halt muttered. If we were here to cause trouble, we could simply ride them both down

John Flanagan

idiot causes trouble

A good leader is someone who knows what he's bad at, and hires someone who's good at it to take care of it for him.

John Flanagan

care leader knows

You can always win points. Winning people’s respect is a lot more important.

John Flanagan

important winning people

If everything is done for me... how will I ever learn?

John Flanagan

done ifs

Once you best a man, never gloat. Be generous and find something in his actions to praise. He won't enjoy being bested but he'll make a good face about it. Show him you appreciate it. Praise can win you a friend. Gloating will only ever make enemies.

John Flanagan

appreciate winning men

It's surprising how often history is decided by something as trival as bad shellfish.

John Flanagan

shellfish decided surprising

Crowley shook his head. "I sometimes wonder if it was a good idea having Halt train apprentices. He seems to teach them no respect for authority." "Oh, he teaches us to respect authority," Gilan said innocently. "He just teaches us to ignore it when necessary.

John Flanagan

wonder sometimes ideas

Gundar seemed to come to a decision. "Well, as my old mam used to say, if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it's probably a duck." "Very wise," Halt said. "And what exactly do your mother's words of wisdom have to do with this situation?" Gundar shrugged. "It looks like a channel. It's the right place for a channel. If I were digging one, this is where I'd dig a channel. So. . ." "So it's probably the channel?" Selethen said. Gundar grinned at him. "Either that or it's a duck.

John Flanagan

ducks wise mother

Halt regarded him. He loved Horace like a younger brother. Even like a second son, after Will. He admired his skill with a sword and his courage in battle. But sometimes, just sometimes, he felt an overwhelming desire to ram the young warrior's head against a convenient tree. "You have no sense of drama or symbolism, do you?" he asked. "Huh?" replied Horace, not quite understanding. Halt looked around for a convenient tree. Luckily for Horace, there were none in sight.

John Flanagan

warrior brother drama

Get rid of their mast, knock holes in the hull, then get back on board." "You want us to sink her?" Gundar asked, and Halt shook his head. "No. I want her badly damaged but capable of making it back to port. I want the word to go out that the strange ship with the red falcon ensign"—he gestured to Evanlyn's ensign, flying from the mast top—"is manned by dangerous, hairy maniacs with axes and is to be avoided at all costs." "That sounds like us," Gundar said cheerfully.

John Flanagan

axes cost flying

I'll be getting you for this,' Halt had told him as he dabbed the diguisting mixture on the worst of the cuts. 'That soot is filthy. I'll probably come down with half a dozen infections.' Probably,' Horace had replied, distracted by his task. 'But we'll only need you for today.' Which was not a very comforting thought for Halt.

John Flanagan

cutting comforting today

Sit down, Will. There’s a good fellow,” he said. “Yes, sir,” replied Will, and Halt’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “He’s never called me sir,” he said. “Probably trying to get on my good side,” Crowley replied. Halt nodded savagely. “Probably.

John Flanagan

eyebrows sides trying

Sometimes," Halt continued, "we tend to expect a little too much of Ranger horses. After all, they are only human.

John Flanagan

horse too-much littles

Got to keep losing horses," he said drowsily. "Bad habit.

John Flanagan

horse habit losing

Without thinking, [Will] spoke. 'Halt? Are you awake?' 'No.' The ill humor in the one-word reply was unmistakable. 'Oh. Sorry.' 'Shut up.' He pondered whether to apologize again and decided this would go against the instruction to shut up, so remained silent.

John Flanagan

apologizing sorry thinking

It was not polite for a Temujai general to allow his emotions to show.

John Flanagan

polite emotion shows

Keep practicing," he told her."Until I get it right?" she said. But he corrected her."No. Until you don't get it wrong.

John Flanagan

archery said

Sometimes, life threw up problems that even the wisest, most trusted mentor couldn't solve for you. It was part of the pain of growing up. And having to stand by and watch was part of being a mentor.

John Flanagan

mentor growing-up pain

I thought told you to watch where you put your feet," he said accusingly. Erak shrugged. I did," he replied ruefully. "But while I was busy watching the ground, I hit that branch with my head. Broke it clean in two." Halt raised his eyebrows. "I assume you're not talking about your head," he muttered. Erak frowned at the suggestion. Of course not," he replied. More's the pity," Halt told him.

John Flanagan

eyebrows talking two

If they invent a four legged chicken," Will said, "Horace will think he's gone to Heaven.