But should you ever come to a time when you need to say something upon my behalf, say this, ‘The last truth is that there is no magic.
Don’t assume the world evolved in the order in which you discovered it.
why do I want to appear to be drinking more than I am?”Make it a habit. Men in their cups are fools, more often than not. And it can be wise to look the fool at times.
Robert had taught him to keep his thoughts in the present or near future, for as Robert had told him, To dwell in the past is to live in regret.
Luck is when those who are prepared take advantage of the moment.
The pride Kaspar had seen in his father’s eyes, despite the admonishing words about foolish acts, had branded the boy for life. ‘Never be afraid.’ He knew that no matter what, any choice must be made fearlessly, or else all would be lost.
My ancestors were conquerors, though now they are heroes in our history.” Glancing at Amos, he said, “But we wrote the history.
History is written by victors,” said Duko. “But I have little use for history. It is the future with which I am concerned.
It’s the problem with having a logical mind and giving women the same credit for ability as men, he mused as he dismounted. You can’t contrive reasons to keep them safe.
You learn something new every day, if you just stop to pay attention.
I let my anger consume me.”“It’s understandable,” she said.“It may be understandable,” replied Pug, “but it is no more forgivable for being understandable.
In Tsurani culture, forgiveness was simply a less shameful form of weakness than capitulation.
Forgive me, Magnus.’‘I don’t know if I can.’‘You must.’Still looking into the distance, he said, ‘You need my forgiveness?’‘No. I’m dead. You can do nothing for me. You need to forgive me so you can live.
What is life for?’ he asked rhetorically. ‘It’s a way to evolve thought. And what is thought for? It’s a way to be aware, a stage between the physical and the spiritual. And time? it’s a good way to keep things separated.
Some love comes like the wind off the sea, while others grow slowly from the seeds of friendship and kindness.” – Carline
…knew the futility of agonizing over why things had transpired as they had. What could have happened, did.
It takes a man of unusual character to openly confront his own shortcomings. It’s so much more convenient to blame others.
A man makes choices,” Tal said.“True, but what choices a man makes depends on what choices he is offered.
He knew there was only a slight difference between an armed guard and an escort, but sometimes that difference separated the honored and the condemned.
My father used to say, “a day spent breathing is a good day
That was not the professional hatred of one warrior for another in the heat of battle, in which even beneath the hatred there still existed a certain begrudging respect.
The order of the universe is like a gem with many facets, and we see only one, that which reflects the existence of our own world.
Yes,” said Talon, his voice the hiss of a coiled serpent.
From our birth we are all dying, but some of us finish sooner than others.
Never offer an oath lightly. For you pledge not only your life and sacred honor, but your people’s honor as well. To break an oath is to be without honor, to be without a spirit, and to be apart from the people.
He likes to humble our foes by making them seem ridiculous. As he said to me the other day, ‘Kill a man, and you cede him honor in the eyes of the gods. Laugh at him and you shame him’.
Never think taking a life is easy. Do that and in a way they win.
Good,” said Creed. “I always like it when a captain has a plan; makes getting killed a lot less random.
Old enemies must be friends when a greater evil looms.
Tragic to kill a friend in battle by mistake when there are so many enemies to go around.
he reminded himself as he turned another corner — glancing automatically into the shadows to see if anyone lurked there — the deed was the thing, not the praise.
Remember this: of all the commodities men trade in, information is the most valuable by far.
Of all the weaknesses that beset a man, vanity is the most deadly. For through vanity can a wise man turn to folly.
Chumaka ended with a quotation from a play that Jiro favored. “ ‘Small acts partner small houses and small minds’.