1 The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense. -Tom Clancy
Reality is often much more unbelievable than fiction. Fiction has to make sense for it to be believable, but reality is far-fetched and unimaginable.
2 The only way to do all the things you’d like to do is to read. -Tom Clancy
The best way to be anything you want and do all the things you want is to start reading. Fiction puts you in a world where anything is possible.
3 Courage is being the only one who knows how terrified you are. -Tom Clancy
It doesn’t matter how afraid you are. All that matters is how willing you are to face your fear. Only you need to know how terrified you are. Just put on a front and fake it till you make it.
4 The world can change around you, but your dream will not. Responsibilities need not erase it. Duties need not obscure it. -Tom Clancy
You don’t have to change your dreams for anyone. Never give up on them regardless of what you have to face. No amount of responsibility or duty should hold you back.
5 Victory comes only to those prepared to make it, and take it. -Tom Clancy
Just because you desire something a lot doesn’t mean that you’ll get it. You need to work hard for it and give it your all. Preparation is the key to success.
6 Fighting wars is not so much about killing people as it is about finding things out. The more you know, the more likely you are to win a battle. -Tom Clancy
Information is key to victory in any war. The more you know about your opponent, the more your chances of victory are.
7 Wars are begun by frightened men. They fear war, but more than that, they fear what will happen if they don’t start one. -Tom Clancy
Fear is often the primary reason for all atrocities. Most wars are started by men who fear the consequences of inaction. It is their fear that leads to such circumstances.
8 What the government is good at is collecting taxes, taking away your freedoms and killing people. It’s not good at much else. -Tom Clancy
Most governments in the world are there to fulfill their own motives and not for the good of the people. They rob the people with taxes, take away their freedom and oppress them in whatever way they can.
9 Beware the fury of a patient man. -Tom Clancy
A patient man often has the worst wrath. Don’t test their patience because no matter how calm and controlled they may seem, there’s a limit to everything.
10 Surviving is much more painful than death. -Tom Clancy
Staying alive is much more difficult and painful than death itself. Life is full of pain and suffering and if you’re surviving, you will have to go through all of it.
11 An overnight success is ten years in the making. -Tom Clancy
An overnight success is just a farce. Success doesn’t come overnight. There’s a lot more that goes on behind the scenes. There are years of effort and hard work that is put into it.
12 The nice thing about enemies is you know where they stand. This is not always true of friends. -Tom Clancy
Enemies are predictable as you know they’ll always be against you. But the same can never be said of friends. Friends are unpredictable. You can never predict if they’ll backstab you or not.
13 There are only two ways we can be beaten: we die or we give up. -Tom Clancy
The moment you give up, you lose every possibility of victory. If you’re adamant to continue, regardless of how tough the road ahead may seem, there’s always a probability of success and that’s what you should look forward to.
14 When you have stopped learning you have begun to die. -Tom Clancy
Learning should be a lifelong process. The moment you stop learning is the moment you are essentially dead. Keep the flame of curiosity burning within you.
15 Fix your eyes forward on what you can do, not back on what you cannot change. -Tom Clancy
Keep your eyes ahead and look towards the future. The past isn’t something you can change so move on from it. The future you can change so focus on that.
15 Best Tom Clancy Quotes From His Books
1. The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense. -Tom Clancy
2. The only way to do all the things you’d like to do is to read. -Tom Clancy
3. Courage is being the only one who knows how terrified you are. -Tom Clancy
4. The world can change around you, but your dream will not. Responsibilities need not erase it. Duties need not obscure it. -Tom Clancy
5. Victory comes only to those prepared to make it, and take it. -Tom Clancy
6. Fighting wars is not so much about killing people as it is about finding things out. The more you know, the more likely you are to win a battle. -Tom Clancy
7. Wars are begun by frightened men. They fear war, but more than that, they fear what will happen if they don’t start one. -Tom Clancy
8. What the government is good at is collecting taxes, taking away your freedoms and killing people. It’s not good at much else. -Tom Clancy
9. Beware the fury of a patient man. -Tom Clancy
10. Surviving is much more painful than death. -Tom Clancy
11. An overnight success is ten years in the making. -Tom Clancy
12. The nice thing about enemies is you know where they stand. This is not always true of friends. -Tom Clancy
13. There are only two ways we can be beaten: we die or we give up. -Tom Clancy
14. When you have stopped learning you have begun to die. -Tom Clancy
15. Fix your eyes forward on what you can do, not back on what you cannot change. -Tom Clancy