--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The columns of mounted men moved forward…" description: "\"“The columns of mounted men moved forward, passed out through the gates of the Palace of Karma, turned off the roadway and headed up the slope that lay..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/roger-zelazny-1604_sf_the-columns-of-mounted-men-moved-forward_2209241.jpg" --- # The columns of mounted men moved forward, passed out… ![“The columns of mounted men moved forward, passed out through the gates of the Palace of Karma, turned off the roadway and headed up the slope that lay to the southeast of the city of Mahartha, comrades blazing like the dawn at their back.” quote by Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/roger-zelazny-1604_sf_the-columns-of-mounted-men-moved-forward_2209241.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/roger-zelazny-1604_sf_the-columns-of-mounted-men-moved-forward_2209241.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/roger-zelazny-1604_sf_the-columns-of-mounted-men-moved-forward_2209241.jpg) > ““The columns of mounted men moved forward, passed out through the gates of the Palace of Karma, turned off the roadway and headed up the slope that lay to the southeast of the city of Mahartha, comrades blazing like the dawn at their back.”” [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A vivid battle scene shows warriors advancing with fierce energy, likened to sunrise. **In simple terms:** Warriors advance like sunrise. Key Takeaway Embrace bold, forward momentum. Themes courage conflict heroism Mood dramatic inspirational Type literary epic When to use this quote - military campaigns - sports competitions - team projects Key Concepts mythic imagery warfare determination Questions to Reflect On - How can we channel such vigor constructively? - What does the sunrise metaphor suggest about hope? A Different Perspective The poetic description may romanticize violence, overlooking its costs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“They rode in a narrow enfillade along a trail strewn with the dry round turds of goats and they rode with their faces averted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/they-rode-in-a-narrow-enfillade-along-a-trail-strewn-with-the-dry/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“Once a Buddha, always a Buddha, Sam. Dust off some of your old parables. You have about fifteen minutes.' 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Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [The most intellectual of men are moved quite as much by the circumstances which they are used to as by their own will. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-most-intellectual-of-men-are-moved-quite-as-much-by-the/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [“The two men moved to either side of his shoulders, close enough that Henry smelled the smell of men who did not spend their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-godbersen/the-two-men-moved-to-either-side-of-his-shoulders-close-enough-that/) [Anna Godbersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-godbersen/) > [It is a myth, not a mandate, a fable not a logic, and symbol rather than a reason by which men are moved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-edman/it-is-a-myth-not-a-mandate-a-fable-not-a-logic-and-symbol-rather-than/) [Irwin Edman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-edman/) > [A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights. Men are moved by only two mechanisms: fear and self-interest. Victory belongs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-man-will-fight-harder-for-his-interests-than-for-his-rights-men-are/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [All men who have moved the world have been men who would stand true to their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/all-men-who-have-moved-the-world-have-been-men-who-would-stand-true/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [Men are moved by two levers only: fear and self interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/men-are-moved-by-two-levers-only-fear-and-self-interest/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“Perhaps all men were moved against their will. 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As you said, there is no truth in the Digital Sea.” “Eventually we must cling to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carpenter/but-what-if-things-aren-t-what-they-seem-as-you-said-there-is-no/) Thomas Carpenter > [To my mind, the best SF addresses itself to problems of the here and now, or even to problems which have never been solved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sladek/to-my-mind-the-best-sf-addresses-itself-to-problems-of-the-here-and/) [John Sladek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sladek/) > [The SF genre, of course, is really an organically evolved, marketplace-determined, idiosyncratic grab bag of themes and signifiers and characters and icons and gadgets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-di-filippo/the-sf-genre-of-course-is-really-an-organically-evolved-marketplace/) [Paul Di Filippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-di-filippo/) ## More by Roger Zelazny > [“I was willing to die fighting, but it was senseless for all these men to go down with me. Perhaps my blood was tainted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/i-was-willing-to-die-fighting-but-it-was-senseless-for-all-these-men/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [I know, too, that death is the only god who comes when you call.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/i-know-too-that-death-is-the-only-god-who-comes-when-you-call/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [There's no such thing as civilization. The word just means the art of living in cities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/there-s-no-such-thing-as-civilization-the-word-just-means-the-art-of/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [“Time, too, is a function of Shadow, and even Dworkin did not know all of its ins and outs. Or perhaps he did. Maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/time-too-is-a-function-of-shadow-and-even-dworkin-did-not-know-all-of/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [I've always been impulsive. My thinking is usually pretty good, but I always seem to do it after I do my talking — by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/i-ve-always-been-impulsive-my-thinking-is-usually-pretty-good-but-i/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [“And again, damn. Of troubles I considered myself amply possessed. But those who have do seem to get. Some spiritual form of compound interest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/and-again-damn-of-troubles-i-considered-myself-amply-possessed-but/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [“Far below, the ocean was a bluegray rug being pulled out from beneath us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/far-below-the-ocean-was-a-bluegray-rug-being-pulled-out-from-beneath/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [A powerful flight of the imagination . . . an entirely enjoyable reading experience, wrought by a pair of writers noted for excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/a-powerful-flight-of-the-imagination-an-entirely-enjoyable-reading/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [The function of criticism should not be confused with the function of reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/the-function-of-criticism-should-not-be-confused-with-the-function-of/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [I always wanted to write, ever since I was a kid. I started writing at the age of 11. All I wanted to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/i-always-wanted-to-write-ever-since-i-was-a-kid-i-started-writing-at/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [While I had often said that I wanted to die in bed, what I really meant was that in my old age I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/while-i-had-often-said-that-i-wanted-to-die-in-bed-what-i-really/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [“That was the first time in my life that I knew the meaning of despair. I read, I worked, I drank, I whored, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/that-was-the-first-time-in-my-life-that-i-knew-the-meaning-of-despair/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [“I watched until the sizzlecloud drew its legs up into itself, hung like a burning cocoon, then died like an ember retreating into ash.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/i-watched-until-the-sizzlecloud-drew-its-legs-up-into-itself-hung/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [To waste! You are unknown and unwanted, save by me. This, because you are fairly adept at the various embalming arts and you occasionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/to-waste-you-are-unknown-and-unwanted-save-by-me-this-because-you-are/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [I watched the spinning stars, grateful, sad and proud, as only a man who has outlived his destiny and realizes he might yet forge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/i-watched-the-spinning-stars-grateful-sad-and-proud-as-only-a-man-who/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) [Explore all 220 Roger Zelazny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) ## More Sf quotes > [The SF genre, of course, is really an organically evolved, marketplace-determined, idiosyncratic grab bag of themes and signifiers and characters and icons and gadgets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-di-filippo/the-sf-genre-of-course-is-really-an-organically-evolved-marketplace/) [Paul Di Filippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-di-filippo/) > [To my mind, the best SF addresses itself to problems of the here and now, or even to problems which have never been solved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sladek/to-my-mind-the-best-sf-addresses-itself-to-problems-of-the-here-and/) [John Sladek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sladek/) > [“But what if things aren’t what they seem? 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Even before we had prisms, branches were still splitting off constantly; we just didn’t have access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-chiang/branches-are-generated-by-any-quantum-event-right-even-before-we-had/) [Ted Chiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-chiang/) > [I believe that if it were possible to scrap the whole of existing literature, all writers would find themselves inevitably producing something very close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-ballard/i-believe-that-if-it-were-possible-to-scrap-the-whole-of-existing/) [J. G. Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-ballard/) > [What SF author or fan isn't interested in human space travel? I've yet to meet one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-lerner/what-sf-author-or-fan-isn-t-interested-in-human-space-travel-i-ve-yet/) [Edward M. 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