Johnston McCulley

Johnston McCulley (February 2, 1883 – November 23, 1958) was an American writer of hundreds of stories, fifty novels and numerous screenplays for film and television, and the creator of the character Zorro.

Quotes

The Mark of Zorro (1919/1924)

Originally published in 1919 with the title The Curse of Capistrano, and reissued in 1924 with the title The Mark of Zorro

All quotes are from the public domain text of the novel, available at "The Mark of Zorro"

It is an insult to my blade to have it enter your body!

• “Shall it be that I never hear of anything except deeds of bloodshed and violence? Would it be possible in these turbulent times for a man to listen to words of wisdom regarding music or the poets?”
  • Chapter 2

• “Landlord, more wine! The only manner in which to stop this raucous boaster is to make his wide throat so slick with wine that the words cannot climb out of it!”
  • Chapter 2

• “Women are fitful and filled with fancies, señor,” he said. “At times they will rail at those whom they in reality adore. There is no telling the workings of a woman’s mind—she cannot explain it with satisfaction herself.”
  • Chapter 7

• “As a matter of fact, I am up early because I must make a confounded trip to my hacienda, a journey of some ten miles, to inspect the flocks and herds. Never become a wealthy man, Sergeant Gonzales, for wealth asks too much of a man.”
  “Something tells me that never shall I suffer on that account,” said the sergeant, laughing.
  • Chapter 12

• “My men must do something to pass the time, and they may as well search the house. You have nothing you wish to hide?”
  “Recognizing the identity of my guests, it might be well to hide the wine-jugs,” Fray Felipe said.
  • Chapter 17

• Don Carlos and his wife hurried across the room and sat down beside Don Diego.
  “I fear you do not understand women, my friend,” Don Carlos said. “Never must you take a woman’s answer for the last. She always may change her mind. A woman likes to keep a man dangling, likes to make him blow cold with fear and hot with anticipation. Let her have her moods, my friend. In the end, I am sure, you shall have your way.”
  • Chapter 19

• Action expressed in a wrong channel is worse than no action at all.
  • Chapter 21

• “I give aid to no spawn of the devil!” Fray Felipe said.
  “Ha! Now you grow angry, and that is against your principles! Is it not the part of a robed fray to receive what comes his way and give thanks for it, no matter how much it chokes him? Answer me that, angry one!”
  “You have about as much knowledge of a Franciscan’s principles and duties as has the horse you ride!”
  “I ride a wise horse, a noble animal. He comes when I call and gallops when I command. Do not deride him until you ride him. Ha! An excellent jest!”
  “Imbecile!”
  • Chapter 33

• “It is an insult to my blade to have it enter your body!”
  • Chapter 35