Gaze Quote by Tessa Dare
““So close. He'd get there. Not today, but soon. He had a task to accomplish here, and the sooner he completed it, the sooner he could rejoin his regiment. He wasn't stopping for anything. Except sheep. Blast it. It would seem they were stopping for sheep. A rough voice said, "I'll take care of them." Thorne joined their group. Bram flicked his gaze to the side and spied his hulking mountain of a corporal shouldering a flintlock rifle. "We can't simply shoot them, Thorne." Obedient as ever, Thorne lowered his gun. "Then I've a cutlass. Just sharpened the blade last night." "We can't butcher them, either." Thorne shrugged. "I'm hungry." Yes, that was Thorne--straightforward, practical. Ruthless.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “A Kingdom of Dreams” by Tessa Dare, 2020
Thorne prioritizes his mission over immediate needs, showing pragmatic ruthlessness while confronting moral dilemmas about harming innocents.
In simple terms: He focuses on his goal, ignoring distractions and showing harsh practicality.
Key Takeaway
Balance duty with compassion.
Themes
duty
pragmatism
morality
conflict
survival
Mood
tense
grim
determined
Type
narrative
dialogue
character study
When to use this quote
- battlefield
- logistics
- food scarcity
- command decisions
Key Concepts
military ethics
human cost
decision making
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it ever justified to sacrifice innocents for a larger goal?
- How does ruthlessness affect long‑term morale?
A Different Perspective
He may neglect empathy, leading to dehumanization.
![“Thorne looked to the woolly beast at his [Bram's] knee and and cocked a brow. "You seem to have acquired a lamb, my lord." "The lamb goes home tomorrow." "And if he doesn't?" "He's dinner.” quote by Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/742/tessa-dare-564_historical-romance-f_thorne-looked-to-the-woolly-beast-at-his_656788.jpg)
![“When he [Colin] reached the center of the field, he paused to catch his breath and scan the area for telltale tufts of wool. When the lamb failed to appear, he cupped his hands around his mouth and tried again. " Dinner! " This time, his call earned an answer. Several answers. In fact, the ground…” quote by Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3c8/tessa-dare-564_historical-romance-f_when-he-colin-reached-the-center-of-the_546435.jpg)
