"One of the advantages of having laws is the pleasure one may take in breaking them. We here are not children, Mr. Gurgeh." Hamin waved the pipestem round the tables of people. "Rules and laws exist only because we take… — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
I'm not a great believer in awards-of course the fact that I've never won one has nothing to do with it at all! — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
“Looking at me, you'd never guess I'd killed three people. It isn't fair.” — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
“The flames had passed over those flattened blades and consumed their heather neighbours on either side while they themselves had remained, made proof against… — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
All you ever were was a little bit of the universe, thinking to itself. Very specific; this bit, here, right now. All the rest… — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
“We're not in prison, we're not junkies and we're not Young Tories...it's no small achievement.” — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
Torture is such a slippery slope; as soon as you allow a society or any legal system to do that, almost instantly you get… — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
“Two years after I killed Blyth I murdered my young brother Paul, for quite different reasons than I'd disposed of Blyth, and then a… — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
If you have any helpful suggestions I'd be pleased to hear them. If all you can do is make snide insinuations then it would… — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
“He hit and fatally injured my innocent and unfortunate uncle whose muttered last words in hospital, before his coma became a full stop, were:… — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
