“What do I know of cultured ways, the gilt, the craft and the lie?I, who was born in a naked land and bred in the open sky.The subtle tongue, the sophist guile, they fail when the broadswords sing;Rush in and die, dogs—I was a man before I was a king.”
In this powerful quote by Robert E. Howard, the speaker reflects on his rugged upbringing and contrasts it with the sophisticated ways of cultured society. The speaker rejects the deceit and manipulation of the "subtle tongue" and "sophist guile," asserting his strength and honor as a man who was forged in the rawness of nature before assuming a position of power. This quote conveys a sense of pride in one's roots and a defiance against the pretense of civilization.
In this powerful quote by Robert E. Howard, the speaker asserts their identity and integrity as a true individual, untouched by the superficial trappings of society. The idea of staying true to oneself in a world filled with deceit and manipulation remains relevant in modern times. This sentiment serves as a reminder to prioritize authenticity and personal strength over conforming to societal expectations.
“The little poets sing of little things:Hope, cheer, and faith, small queens and puppet kings;Lovers who kissed and then were made as one,And modest flowers waving in the sun.The mighty poets write in blood and tearsAnd agony that, flame-like, bites and sears.They reach their mad blind hands into the night,To plumb abysses dead to human sight;To drag from gulfs where lunacy lies curled,Mad, monstrous nightmare shapes to blast the world. MUSINGS [click on the thumbnail by Jack "King" Kirby]”
“The more I see of what you call civilization, the more highly I think of what you call savagery!”
“I never saw a man fight as Conan fought. He put his back to the courtyard wall, and before they overpowered him the dead men were strewn in heaps thigh-deep about him. But at last they dragged him down, a hundred against one.”
“Gleaming shell of an outworn lie; fable of Right divine—You gained your crowns by heritage, but Blood was the price of mine.The throne that I won by blood and sweat , by Crom, I will not sellFor promise of valleys filled with gold, or threat of the Halls of Hell!”
“I don't believe I ever saw an Oklahoman who wouldn't fight at the drop of a hat -- and frequently drop the hat himself.”
“Let me live deep while I live; let me know the rich juices of red meat & stinging wine on my palate, the hot embrace of white arms, the mad exultation of battle when the blue blades flame crimson, and I am content"......Conan the Cimmerian.”