Jan Guillou Quotes

Svarte shared this view, but he was obliged to obey.

Do you happen to remember me, young man?’ asked the archbishop kindly, surprisingly speaking in French instead of Latin. ‘No, Monseigneur, I cannot honestly say that I do,’ replied Arn with embarrassm...

Don't let the pride take over reason

There's nothing more important than making a faith reasonable

Then the parents might be released from their promise. But in that case, the monks at the same time would be placing themselves, knowingly and willingly, above the clearly manifested will of God.

Now Arn remembered and said that this was indeed a vivid memory, but it was also an event that was considerably better to remember than it was at the time.

Kristina merely laughed at these foolish ideas; it was like letting the cattle out onto a green pasture to milk, slaughter, and finally roast themselves.

I see that you are not happy with our command,’ said the archbishop. ‘No, Your Grace. I’ve tried to acquit myself well here at the cloister, and I don’t mean to boast in any way when I say that, but I...

Nová technika stvoří nového, rovnoprávnějšího člověka. Hovoří pro to veškerý rozum. Přesto je znepokojivé, že se uprostřed dobře organizované moderní společnosti mohlo zrodit tolik primitivního zla.

Actually I had just intended to retaliate, because when we met the first time you chided me for not speaking very good Norse. Well, that jest fell flat, since your French is excellent.

A person had to learn to come to terms with the fate determined for him by God. It would do no good to grumble that one would rather be someone else or live somewhere else. Instead one had to try to m...

At first Father Henri gave an evasive reply to the request and asked instead to be informed of what the laws outside the walls said about lay brother Arn’s behavior

Arn was about to say something about having too much work awaiting him, and that only at the end of the workday should a man enjoy the fruits of what he had accomplished by the sweat of his brow.

Erlend also thought that he would undoubtedly make Father Henri very happy with this story, and that his industriousness and exactitude in carrying out this task might also shorten his wait to be admi...

Svarte, who was reckoned the best smith at Arnäs, had watched Arn in the smithy and he reluctantly had to admit that there wasn’t much he could teach the boy about hammer and anvil. If he were to be q...