‘Nothing wrong with fear. It is how we deal with it that counts.‘
– Stavut, to Shakul, The Swords of Night and Day
‘Nothing wrong with fear. It is how we deal with it that counts.‘
– Stavut, to Shakul, The Swords of Night and Day
‘Fear is usually good. It stops us being reckless; it gives us caution. But Chareos says that fear is a servant who longs to be the master. And he is a terrible master who must be fought, held in thrall. You are strong. You are iron. You are proud.‘
– Kiall, to Tanaki, Quest for Lost Heroes
‘There is no courage without fear. A man who rushes into battle fearlessly is not a hero. He is merely a strong man with a big sword. An act of courage requires the overcoming of fear.‘
– Odysseus, to Helikaon, Lord of the Silver Bow
‘Now this is how courage and fear work, lad. Both will always be pushing. They are never still. And a man cannot choose to stop pushing. For if he backs away the fear will come after him, and push him pack another step, and then another. Men who give in to fear are like kings who trust in castles to keep out enemies, rather than attacking them on open ground, and scattering them. So the enemies camp round the castle, and now the king cannot get out. Slowly his food runs out, and he discovers the castle is not a very safe place to be.‘
– Odysseus, to Helikaon, Lord of the Silver Bow
‘We are all of us hybrid beasts. There is the savage in us, who would tear out an enemy’s heart and devour it raw. There is the lover, who composes songs to the woman who owns his soul. There is the father, who holds his child close, and would die to protect it from all harm. Three creatures in one man. And there are more. In every one of us is the total of all we have ever been, the sullen child, the arrogant youth, the suckling babe. Every fear endured in childhood is lodged somewhere in here. And every act of heroism or cowardice, generosity or meanness of spirit.‘
– Gershom, to Helikaon, Lord of the Silver Bow
‘Heroes are people who face down their fears. It is that simple. A child afraid of the dark who one day blows out the candle. A woman terrified of the pain of childbirth who says, “It is time to become a mother.” Heroism does not always live on the battlefield.‘
– Karis, to Pooris, Dark Moon
‘And now I am going to tell you a great truth, and if you are wise you will take it to your heart. All men are stupid. They are full of fear and insecurity – it makes them weak. Always the other man seems stronger, more confident, more capable. It is a lie of the worst kind, for we lie to ourselves.‘
– Pagan, to Scaler, The King Beyond the Gate
‘Always listen to fear. Never be ruled by it. Fear is like a cowardly friend. His advice is not always wrong, but, given the chance, he will drag you down into the pit he dwells in.‘
– Jaim Grymauch, to Kaelin Ring, Ravenheart
‘In life there are two kinds of people: those who run from their fears, and those who overcome them. Fear is like a coward. If you back away it becomes a fearsome bully who will beat you into the ground. Face him and he shrinks to a tiny noise insect.‘
– Keeva’s Uncle, to Keeva Taliana, Hero in the Shadows
‘It is not a crime to be frightened. I am frightened. Anyone with any intelligence would be frightened. Fear is necessary. It is there to keep us alive; to warn us to avoid danger.‘
– Skilgannon, to Rabalyn, White Wolf