‘It would certainly make life more complete if one could believe in a grand plan for the universe. If we could be certain that evil men would receive judgement. However, I fear that life is not so simple. Wise men say that the universe is in a state of constant war, a battle between the Source and the forces of chaos. If that is true then chaos commands the most cavalry.’
– Nogusta, to Dagorian, Winter Warriors
‘How does evil grow? What makes it appear in a human heart, growing like a weed among blooms? I tell you. It is born from anger and injustice, from resentment and jealousy.’
– Kollarin, to the clan children, Ironhand’s Daughter
‘We all of us carry the seed of evil in our hearts and souls. Even the purest, even the most holy. It is part of the human condition, born into us. We cannot root it out. All we can do – at best – is prevent it from germinating.’
– Ustarte, to Skilgannon, The Swords of Night and Day
‘You are a man, and men must face what they fear or be destroyed by it.’
– Druss, to Pellin, The Legend of Deathwalker
‘I have found in my life that there are few actions which are unforgivable. And there are no words said that carry such a penalty.’
– Vintar, to Rek, Legend
‘You talk about countering evil, and in essence that is a question of balance. But the scales are not merely linear. A great great amount of evil does not necessarily require an equivalent amount of good to equalise the balance.’
– Pendarric, to Galead, Last Sword of Power
‘If you tell the same lie often enough for long enough, then eventually it can become the truth.’
– Hektor, to Odysseus, Fall of Kings
‘These three mysteries the warrior must understand: Life, Harmony and Spirit. The first is life, sometimes called the Greek gift, for it is taken back, day after day. What is it? It is breath, it is laughter, it is joy. The brighter the light, the shorter its existence. But one thing is certain – and the warrior knows this. All lives end. A man can hide in a cave all his days, avoiding war, avoiding pestilence, and still he will one day die. Better the bright flame, the great joy. A man who has never known sorrow can never appreciate joy. So the man who has not faced death can not understand life.
Harmony is the second mystery. The tree knows harmony, and the breeze and the quiet stars. Man rarely finds it. Find it now, here on this lonely hill. Listen to the beating of your heart, feel the air in your lungs, see the glory of the moon. Be at one with the night. Be at one with these stones. Be at one with your sword and yourself. For in harmony is strength, and in strength there is life.
Lastly there is Spirit. Tonight you will want to run… to hide… to escape. But spirit will tell you to stand firm. It is a small voice and easy to shut out. But you will listen. For spirit is all a man has against the Darkness. And only by following the voice of spirit can a man grow strong. Courage, loyalty, friendship and love are all gifts of the spirit.’
– Revelation, to Cormac, Last Sword of Power
‘People say we no longer live in an age of miracles. It is not so. What has been lost is our ability to see them.’
– The Deacon, The Wisdom of the Deacon, Bloodstone
