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Imperium Quotes

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Attributed

Imperial Texts

Tome Quote Source
Runic Spaceflight - An Introduction: Naval Flight Manual W110E Should a machine not function upon striking the panel marked "on" this is an omen of great ill. The reasons ascribed may be as follows. Firstly, the function of inadequate preparation on the part of the operator. Secondly, the action of the machine whose spirit may refuse the binding of the operator. Thirdly, the malintent of some third party upon the operator or machine. The operator must repeat the ritual from the beginning re-purifying himself, enscribing the runes, intoning the incantations, and striking the panel marked 'on'. An accompanying oath may be made. Should this procedure fail, the operator must recourse to consulting the instruction manual. Book of the Astronomican, pg. 18
Training questions, Administratum Cant and Dogma Question: What's the Emperor ever done for me?
Answer: What have you ever done for the Emperor?
Book of the Astronomican, pg. 67
Statement of fact, Second Book of Chantings There is only the Emperor,
and he is our Shield and Protector.
Book of the Astronomican, pg. 78
Inspirational Verse, Imperial Hymnal Vol. IV Hate! Hate! Hate!
An emotion as pure as it is deep!
Hate! Hate! Hate!
Let it flow, let it run free!
Book of the Astronomican, pg. 101
Parables You gaze at the mountain, Children of Terra, you see its snow-capped peak and the clouds upon its slopes. You dream of reaching that pinnacle and drinking the cold waters. But who dreams of the road that ascends the mountain side? The road to the peak is hard and murderous. It has broken countless Children of Terra upon its rocks. Their splintered bones lie scattered upon it, paving the way to the mountain top. At every step you will hear the bones crumbling under foot, and maybe you shall hear the wind-blown voices of the dead - guiding you forward or leading you to your doom. Yes, my children, the way to the mountain is cruel and unforgiving. And of those who struggle their long lives, spending their energy and vigour in the climb, who then can taste the melt-water of the summit and say, 'Yes... yes it was worthwhile?' Book of the Astronomican, pg. 84
Firing rite (old recension) With the blood of an enemy shall the marks be made upon the missile. Then bless the missile and present unto the mounting. Say the prayer of firing and curse the target. Do this rapidly lest the wrath of the weapon be wasted. Point the eye of the weapon so that it may see the object of its wrath. When the weapon has uttered its curse and eaten the soul of its victim, then shall you take up the next missile... Warhammer 40,000 Compendium, pg. 131
The Credo of the Astronomican Our thoughts light the Darkness that others may cross space.
We are one with the Emperor, our souls are joined in his will.
Praise the Emperor whose sacrifice is life as ours is death.
Hail his name the Master of Humanity.

- extract
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, pg. 37;

White Dwarf 93 (UK), pgs. 37/38

Codex Imperialis My will be done
- page 1
Warhammer 40,000 Compendium, pg. 129
Melothrucius Lux Those who scale the pinnacles of glory have the furthest to plunge into the abyss. Codex: Chaos Space Marines (8th Edition), pg. 12

B

Speaker Quote Source
Cardinal Morius Blate,
Ecclesiarch Primus
The Imperium! How mighty its aspect! How far-reaching its boundaries! As one world dies ten more are brought into the fold. Fear us, for we count the lives of planets, not men! Apocalypse, pg. 21
Mordin Barr A fortress is a living thing: the commander its brain, the walls its bones, the sensors its eyes and ears, the troops its blood, their weapons its fists. This tells us two things: If one organ fails, the whole dies. And if the whole dies, no single organ can survive alone.
- attributed
Warhammer Siege, pg. 91
Helem Boesch Contact with alien races always renews one's faith in humanity. It is my belief that foreign travel narrows the mind wonderfully.
- attributed
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, pg. 41

C

Speaker Quote Source
Lord Corvis of Petrax If all else fails: duck. As a defensive stratagem it's unreliable, but incredibly reassuring for a moment or two. Warhammer 40,000 5th Edition Rulebook, pg. 21

D

Speaker Quote Source
Eyor Dedonki If you don't expect gratitude you'll seldom be disappointed.
- Memoirs of a Pessimist, 479.M41
The Traitor's Hand (Novel) - Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium (Omnibus), ch. Four, pg. 539

E

Speaker Quote Source
The Emperor of Mankind The universe has many horrors yet to throw at us. This is not the end of our struggle. This is just the beginning of our crusade to save Humanity. Be faithful! Be strong! Be vigilant! Collected Visions, pg. 367

F

Speaker Quote Source
First Book of Indocrinations To be Unclean
This is the mark of the Mutant
To be Impure
This is the mark of the Mutant
To be Abhorred
This is the mark of the Mutant
To be Reviled
This is the mark of the Mutant
To be Hunted
This is the mark of the Mutant
To be Purged
This is the mark of the Mutant
To be Cleansed
This is the mark of the Mutants

- extract from a
Training Chant
White Dwarf 93 (UK), pg. 39
Tollen Ferlang, Imperial Envoy to the Realm of Ultramar, 564-603.M41 It’s often remarked that diplomacy is just warfare by other means. Our battles are no less desperate for being bloodless, but at least we get wine and finger food. For the Emperor (Novel) - Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium (Omnibus), ch. 4, pg. 83

G

Speaker Quote Source
Abdul Goldberg, Rogue Trader Never take a gamble you’re not prepared to lose. For the Emperor (Novel) - Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium (Omnibus), ch. 14, pg. 225
Orthas Gregoran, Chief Demagogue of the Forlan Synod Shall we lie down meekly as a lamb before the ravening wolf or shall we oppose such horrors as the galaxy will throw at us with proud contempt? Suffer not the beasts and abominations of other worlds to live in our Imperium! Warhammer 40,000 Battle Primer (8th Edition), pg. 3
Commander Ashton Grimes Give me a squad of marines first. But second, give me army troops and a solid wall. Warhammer Siege, pg. 113

H

Speaker Quote Source
Warmaster Horus The warp is a vital tool to us, a means of communication and transport. Without it, there would be no Imperium of Man, for there would be no quick bridges between the stars. We use it, and we harness it, but we have no absolute control over it. It is a wild thing that tolerates our presence, but brooks no mastery. There is power in the warp, fundamental power, not good, nor evil, but elemental and anathema to us. It is a tool we use at our own risk. Horus Rising (Novel), Part One, ch. 10, pg. 198

I

Speaker Quote Source
Ranek Icewalker,
Wolf Priest of the Space Wolves
Earth is the hub of the Imperium. It's the centre of government, the setting of mankind's greatest temples, the home of our wealthiest and most powerful merchant houses. And the most corrupt.... where there is government and where there is money, there is corruption. And there is no place in this universe that has more government and more money than Old Earth. Wolfblade (Novel),
ch. Two

K

Speaker Quote Source
Imperial Commander Ryland Kline You ask me how, for example, I would deal with a fortress. What can I say? Blast it? Burn it? Gas it? The list is endless. But the military man should never raise such questions. From the moment he enters the Chapter he is taught to deal with practicalities. What is the objective - capture or destroy? What troops do I have - Space Marines or native planet regulars? How are they equipped? What is known of the defenders? And so on.
A military man avoids open questions, and resists himself to facts. This is a crucial difference; a question requires an answer, a set of facts has only a result. An answer raises further questions, but a result is indisputable.

- Archive Memoirs
Warhammer Siege, pg. 93
Inquisitor Kryptman One cannot consider the fate of a single man, nor ten, nor a thousand. Billions will live or die by our actions here, and we have not the luxury to count the cost. Apocalypse, pg. 12

O

Speaker Quote Source
Osric the Loopy,
Governor of Corania
Revenge is a dish best served with mayonnaise and those little cheesy things on sticks.
- appointed 756.M41, removed from office by the Officio Assassinorum 764.M41)
The Traitor's Hand (Novel) - Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium (Omnibus), ch. 21, pg. 753

P

Speaker Quote Source
Kolton Phae If your battle plan's working, it's probably a trap.
- On Military Matters, 739.M41
The Traitor's Hand (Novel) - Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium, ch. 13, pg. 649

Q

Speaker Quote Source
Gilbran Quail, Collected Essays The past is always with us. The Traitor's Hand (Novel) - Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium (Omnibus), ch. 19, pg. 735
If you go looking for trouble, you're sure to find it. The Traitor's Hand (Novel) - Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium (Omnibus), ch. 17, pg. 705
Life’s so much easier when you’ve got someone to blame. For the Emperor (Novel) - Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium (Omnibus), ch. 16, pg. 257
The gratitude of the powerful is a heavy weight to bear. For the Emperor (Novel) - Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium (Omnibus), ch. 7, pg. 123
Old friends are like debt collectors; they have a tendency to turn up when you least expect them. For the Emperor (Novel) - Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium (Omnibus), ch. 3, pg. 65
One thing you can say for enemies; they make life more interesting. The Traitor's Hand (Novel) - Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium (Omnibus), ch. 2, pg. 513
Paranoia is a very comforting state of mind. If you think they're out to get you, it means you think you matter. The Traitor's Hand (Novel) - Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium (Omnibus), ch. 6, pg. 563

S

Speaker Quote Source
Scholastia Psykana saying Through the needle's eye, I live or die. Blackstone Fortress (Novel), Before
William Tekumsah Sherman,
ancient Terran general
War is hell. Fear to Tread (Novel),
page after Dramatis Personae
Argun Slyter The wider he smiled and called us friend, the tighter we clung to our purses.
- Well What Did You Expect? Act 2, Scene 2
The Traitor's Hand (Novel) - Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium (Omnibus), ch. 1, pg. 501
Life's a journey. Shame about the destination.
- The Wastrel's Stratagem, Act 4, Scene 1
The Traitor's Hand (Novel) - Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium (Omnibus), ch. 16, pg. 697
Heironymo Sondar,
High Master of Vervunhive
The distinction between Trade and Warfare is seen only by those who have no experience of either.
- from his inaugural address
Necropolis (Novel), ch. 1

T

Speaker Quote Source
Torin,
Wolfblade to House Belisarius
Beautiful on the surface, but rotten underneath. Don't ever, even for a second, doubt that this is the most dangerous world in the galaxy.... Danger does not always come in the shape of orks with bolters, Ragnar. This world is where the elite of the Imperium have gathered. We are talking now of the most ruthless, ambitious, unscrupulous collection of rogues ever culled from a million planets. This is the place they have come to realise their ambitions, and on Terra they can, and will not let anything stand in their way. Not me, not you, not their own kin if need be. Wolfblade (Novel),
ch. Four
But do not underestimate them. The Navigators are, for the most part, as clever as they think they are. They would not survive otherwise. They are born and trained to conspiracy as we are born and trained to war. Wolfblade (Novel),
ch. Fourteen

V

Speaker Quote Source
Janni Vakonz, holo director Stories are much tidier than real life. Stories have neat, happy endings, but all you ever really get is unfinished business. For the Emperor (Novel) - Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium (Omnibus), Epilogue, pg. 267

W

Speaker Quote Source
Jarvin Wallankot You can never have too many enemies. The more you've got, the more likely they are to get in each other's way.
- Idle Musings, 605.M41
The Traitor's Hand (Novel) - Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium (Omnibus), ch. 15, pg. 675
Warrior's Catechism of Worship (part) Look to your battle-gear and it will protect you
We guard it with out lives
Your armour is your Soul, and your Soul's dedication its armour
The soul of a warrior is the shield of humanity
Honour the craft of death
Only the Emperor is higher in our devotion
Honour the battle-gear of the Dead
We ask only to serve
White Dwarf 93 (UK), pg. 40

Z

Speaker Quote Source
Peshto Vask Zemlya, Navigator In my high seat I gaze into the immaterium and see the shadow that our own universe casts into depthlessness. This eye... this eye sees gentle flows of soul-stuff where the becalmed mind might starve to death, and tides and churns of genius and hate. The warp mocks the power of words to describe. But what I can never turn my back on is the power and the beauty of the Emperor. I see His soul shine out from Earth and His presence fill every corner of the immaterium. I am scorned for what I talk of seeing, scorned by my family - so be it. Some say that every one of us sees a face of the warp meant only for him, a warp that none other shall ever see, but it makes no matter. I have known from the first time I beheld it that I could do nothing but follow that light with my life. Crossfire (Novel) - Enforcer (Omnibus), ch. Five, pg. 119

Unattributed

Quote Source
Do not neglect the defence of gateways. They must be able to bar entry as well as allowing it. Warhammer Siege, pg. 103
Do not waste your tears. I was not born to watch the world grow dim. Life is not measured in years, but by the deeds of men. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, pg. 113
Every man is a spark in the darkness. by the time he is noticed he is gone forever. A retinal after-image that fades and is obscured by newer, brighter lights. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, pg. 93
For every battle honour, a thousand heroes die alone, unsung, and unremembered. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, pg. 72
If a job's worth doing it's worth dying for.
- proverb
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, pg. 28
In an Imperium of a million worlds, what matters the loss of one?
That depends very much on the world.
The Chapter's Due (Novel), ch. 1, pg. 2
It is not my mind to ask questions that cannot be answered. That is the soul standing upon the crossroad of vacillation. You search for wisdom, but achieve only a stasis of will. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, pg. 35
Let the strength of your will match the stone of your walls. Warhammer Siege, pg. 112
Only in your deepest self is the truth of what you can be. And, without a doubt, that truth is terrible to bear.
- Sensei saying
Book of the Astronomican, pg. 70
Praise the sun that brings the dawn of our final doom. Warhammer 40,000 Compendium, pg. 80
Speed the bolt that brings the end of enemy and friend. Warhammer 40,000 Compendium, pg. 76
Success is commemorated; Failure merely remembered. Book of the Astronomican, pg. 104
The greatest man is but a ripple on the surface of space. Warhammer 40,000 Compendium, pg. 76
There is no right or wrong in our profession. The present changes the past from moment to moment. Only pray for the future to vindicate your action. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, pg. 116
Walk softly and carry a big Multi-melta. Book of the Astronomican, pg. 97
Weigh the fist that strikes men down
And salutes the battle won.
Warhammer 40,000 Compendium, pg. 74
We shall carry our word,
We will correct and unify,
Hail the Emperor!
Warhammer 40,000 Compendium, pg. 92
What fear of death have we who know there is immortality in the great and noble deeds of men? Warhammer 40,000 5th Edition Rulebook, pg. 110
Wisdom is the beginning of fear. Warhammer 40,000 Compendium, pg. 80