The Left Hand of Darkness Quotes

The soundest fact may fail or prevail in the style of its telling: like that singular jewel of our seas, which grows brighter as one woman wears it and, worn by another, dulls and goes to dust. (1.1)

Wiping sweat from his dark forehead the man—man I must say, having said he and his—the man answers. (1.14)

"To govern this land is to govern its lords. Not that it's ever done. Do you know the saying, Karhide is not a nation but a family quarrel?" (1.17)

Though the technique is the exact opposite of most discipline, tending toward the experience of Immanence; but I can't categorize any practice of the Handdarata with certainty. (5.28)

"Yes indeed, yes indeed! And gratitude's a noble, rare emotion, much praised by the poets. Rare above all here in Erhenrang, no doubt because it's impracticable." (1.31)

I'm not much taller than the Gethenian norm, but the difference is most noticeable in a crowd. That's him, look, there's the Envoy. Of course that was part of my job, but it was the part that got h...

The driver named the thirteen for me, and told me stories of avalanches, and landboats blown off the road by mountain winds, and snowplow crews marooned for weeks in inaccessible heights, and so on...

This is a parade with no soldiers, not even imitation soldiers. (1.5)

"But you broke your vow, throwing it away with your life. And now you cannot say my name." This was true. Hode moved his white lips, but could not say his brother's name. (2.10-11)