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D’Artagnan
Athos is a musketeer whose real name is Comte de la Fère. Despite his aristocratic origins, Athos obscures his identity and refuses to tell anyone about his past. Of the musketeers, Athos is the dourest and there are often stretches of times where he drinks nonstop. Despite his occasional bouts of alcoholism, Athos is the wisest member of the group and is the most likely of the friends to act as a leader along with d’Artagnan. During one of Athos’s binge drinking sessions, he accidently reveals to d’Artagnan that he used to be married to a woman who he killed after he saw a fleur-de-lis on her shoulder. Evidently, Athos’s attempt to murder his former wife failed because she is still alive, and in the present she’s known as Milady de Winter. Although Athos usually keeps his emotions under control, he nurses a deep hatred for Milady and is the only one who seems genuinely happy after her death. Additionally, Athos is the best swordsman in the group, and he has the best military mind. He is often the musketeer who is matched up with more than one enemy at once in combat and he always manages to come out unscathed.
Athos Quotes in The Three Musketeers
The The Three Musketeers quotes below are all either spoken by Athos or refer to Athos. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 3
Quotes
Athos’s arrival had caused a sensation in the anteroom, for his wound was known to everyone despite all efforts to keep it a secret. The door had remained ajar, and Tréville’s words were greeted by a joyous hubbub. Two or three musketeers, carried away by enthusiasm, drew back the door curtain and looked into the study. Tréville was about to rebuke them sharply when he felt Athos’s hand tighten in his own and saw that he was about to faint.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7
Quotes
Unfortunately, Porthos knew no more about Athos’s life than what hearsay told him. It was said that he had suffered great afflictions in his love affairs and that a monstrous betrayal had poisoned his life forever. What that betrayal had been, no one knew.
Chapter 8
Quotes
They were so closely united that they shared whatever they had and each was always ready to help the others, even at the risk of death. They made plans together and carried them out either individually or as a group; they were like four arms that sometimes joined in a single attack and sometimes separated to ward off danger from any direction. Four men like that could surely overcome all obstacles in their path, using either force or guile, and reach any goal they chose, no matter how distant or well defended it might be.
Chapter 9
Quotes
“All for one, one for all.”
Chapter 27
Quotes
Athos was thus an extraordinary man. And yet, despite his distinction and refinement, he sometimes sank into sluggish apathy, as old men sink into physical and mental debility. In his periods of lethargy, and they were many, the radiant side of his nature disappeared, although engulfed in darkness. Then, when the demigod had vanished, what remained was scarcely a man.
Chapter 44
Quotes
“Monseigneur,” Milady interrupted, “I’ll trade you a life for a life, a man for a man; rid me of this one and I’ll rid you of the other.”
Chapter 47
Quotes
“The bearer of this letter has acted under my orders and for the good of the state.
Richelieu”
Chapter 51
Quotes
“We are conspirators, Monseigneur,” said Athos, “but as you saw the other morning, we conspire against the enemy.”
Chapter 67
Quotes
“You’re young,” said Athos. “Your bitter memories still have time to turn to sweet ones.”
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Athos Quotes in The Three Musketeers
The The Three Musketeers quotes below are all either spoken by Athos or refer to Athos. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 3
Quotes
Athos’s arrival had caused a sensation in the anteroom, for his wound was known to everyone despite all efforts to keep it a secret. The door had remained ajar, and Tréville’s words were greeted by a joyous hubbub. Two or three musketeers, carried away by enthusiasm, drew back the door curtain and looked into the study. Tréville was about to rebuke them sharply when he felt Athos’s hand tighten in his own and saw that he was about to faint.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7
Quotes
Unfortunately, Porthos knew no more about Athos’s life than what hearsay told him. It was said that he had suffered great afflictions in his love affairs and that a monstrous betrayal had poisoned his life forever. What that betrayal had been, no one knew.
Chapter 8
Quotes
They were so closely united that they shared whatever they had and each was always ready to help the others, even at the risk of death. They made plans together and carried them out either individually or as a group; they were like four arms that sometimes joined in a single attack and sometimes separated to ward off danger from any direction. Four men like that could surely overcome all obstacles in their path, using either force or guile, and reach any goal they chose, no matter how distant or well defended it might be.
Chapter 9
Quotes
“All for one, one for all.”
Chapter 27
Quotes
Athos was thus an extraordinary man. And yet, despite his distinction and refinement, he sometimes sank into sluggish apathy, as old men sink into physical and mental debility. In his periods of lethargy, and they were many, the radiant side of his nature disappeared, although engulfed in darkness. Then, when the demigod had vanished, what remained was scarcely a man.
Chapter 44
Quotes
“Monseigneur,” Milady interrupted, “I’ll trade you a life for a life, a man for a man; rid me of this one and I’ll rid you of the other.”
Chapter 47
Quotes
“The bearer of this letter has acted under my orders and for the good of the state.
Richelieu”
Chapter 51
Quotes
“We are conspirators, Monseigneur,” said Athos, “but as you saw the other morning, we conspire against the enemy.”
Chapter 67
Quotes
“You’re young,” said Athos. “Your bitter memories still have time to turn to sweet ones.”
