"The ardents who passed through town were careful to explain that the Calling of a farmer was a noble one, one of the highest save for the Calling of a soldier. Kal’s father whispered under his breath that he saw far more honor in feeding the kingdom than he did in fighting and dying in useless wars."

"What you said earlier is right; men are unreliable in many things. But if there’s one thing you can count on, it’s their greed."

"“Curious,” she said. “I will do my best to pretend there was sense in that. As an aside, has it ever struck you that most masculine arts deal with destroying, while feminine arts deal with creation?”"

"“You intrigue me, Shallan Davar.” She found her heart thumping. Oddly, a panic rose within her at the same time. “I shouldn’t be intriguing.” “Why not?” “Logic puzzles are intriguing. Mathematical computations can be intriguing. Political maneuvers are intriguing. But women…they should be nothing short of baffling.” “And what if I think I’m beginning to understand you?” “Then I’m at a severe disadvantage,” she said. “As I don’t understand myself.”"

"Men were not in command of their own religious paths; the priests control the doctrine, and few members of the Church were allowed to know theology. They were taught to follow the priests. Not the Almighty or the Heralds, but the priests."

"The body needs many different foods to remain healthy. And the mind needs many different ideas to remain sharp. Wouldn’t you agree?"

"“Brightness…I believe you stray into sarcasm.” “Funny. I thought I’d run straight into it, screaming at the top of my lungs.”"

"They were not demons, they were just men who had too much power and not enough sense."

"Bitterness is repaid more often than kindness. One of his father’s sayings."

"“Who’s put these ideas in your head? Why would you want to learn to hit other boys with a stick?” “For honor, father,” Kal said. “Who tells stories about surgeons, for the Heralds’s sake!” “The children of the men and women whose lives we save,” Lirin said evenly, meeting Kal’s gaze. “That’s who tell stories of surgeons.”"

"“My circumstances are unusual, Brightness.” “Ignorance is hardly unusual, Miss Davar. The longer I live the more I come to realize that it is the natural state of the human mind. There are many who will strive to defend its sanctity and then expect you to be impressed with their efforts.”"

"“Are you going to answer me? Why is it you trust my daughter so much when others almost universally revile her?” “I consider their disdain for her to be a recommendation,” he said. “She is a heretic.” “She refused to join any of the devotaries because she did not believe in their teachings. Rather than compromise for the sake of appearances, she has been honest and has refused to make professions she does not believe. I find that a sign of honor.” Navani snorted. “You two are a pair of nails in the same doorframe. Stern, hard, and storming annoying to pull free.”"

"The motivations of men. They never make sense. And they always make sense."

"Every man is a hero in his own story, Princess."

"Of course not," she agreed, "You are nothing if not exhaustive in your self-congratulatory made-up logic."

"That could be solved," Siri said, "Perhaps it would help if you refrained from speaking when others are present. I think I should find you quite amiable in those circumstances."

"I try to avoid having thoughts. They lead to other thoughts, and—if you're not careful—those lead to actions. Actions make you tired. I have this on rather good authority from someone who once read it in a book."

"You see the great thing about madness is that it's all in your head."

"I have a headache" "You can't get headaches" "So you're fond of telling me."

"… imaginary things were often the only items of real substance in people's lives."

"I've always been very confident in my immaturity."

"That's the funny thing about arriving somewhere, Vin. Once you're there, the only thing you can really do is leave again"

"The Eleventh Metal? Of course it is - I showed it to you remember?"

"[..] overthrowing the Final Empire seems like a good start. Are there any religions on your list that include the slaughter of noblemen as a holy duty?"

"But expectations were like fine pottery. The harder you help them, the more likely they were to crack."

"For the man whose religion claims to spread truth, priest, your lies are strikingly vulgar."

"There's always another secret."

"Surprisingly, it was in my mouth," he said, "I always forget to check there."

"Men often place pride before reason."

"“I do, however, wonder why you preach hatred of the Atlantans when you yourself simply pity them.” Hrathen didn’t respond immediately, tapping his gauntleted finger against the stone parapet with a repetitive click. “It’s not so hard, once you accustom yourself to it,” he finally said. “A man can force himself to hate if he wishes, especially if he convinces himself that it is for a higher good.”"

"“I suppose an optimistic comment wouldn’t do much good right now.” Galladon smiled slightly. “Definitely not—you optimists just can’t understand that a depressed person doesn’t want you to try and cheer them up. It makes us sick.”"

"“Eventually I found the best source of information to be the soldiers with guard the city walls.” “I’ve heard of them,” Sarene said, looking over her clothing. “They’re supposed to be the most elite fighting group in Arelon.” “And they are very quick to tell you so, my lady,” Ashe said. “I doubt many of them would know what to do in a battle, though they seem quite proficient at cards and drinking. They tend to keep their uniforms well pressed, however.”"

"You have to expect a measure of subterfuge in any political engagement."

"Hrathen turned to Dial. “The first step in taking control of a nation, Arteth, is the simplest. You find someone to hate.”"

"You will find that hate can unify people more quickly and more fervently than devotion ever could."

"They needed to work and improve their own lives, not wait for some external miracle."

"“I didn’t say Tvlakv isn’t a bastard. He’s just a likable bastard.” He hesitated, then grimaced. “Those are the worst kind. When you kill them, you end up feeling guilty for it.”"

"Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination."

"Death comes, they whispered. Death comes to all. But life comes first. Cherish it. Death is the destination. But the journey, that is life. That is what matters."

"Failure in any given subject is the first qualification towards becoming a teacher."

"Stories are the architects of the human mind."

"In the distinctly human sense of our existence, people are made of language."

"A writer who denies the need for structure in his work is like a squash player who claims his brilliance removes the need for a wall."

"The writer doesn’t push story into us, he withholds information in order that we draw his story out of ourselves."

"On summer evenings, before bathtime, my dad used to pick me up by the ankles and swing me round and round! Then one arm and one leg! Like an aeroplane - Wheeeee! We trashed that bathroom."

"There is a reason why you only see those adventurous types marching off into crocodile infested waters and uncharted jungles up the Congo. Marching into somewhere like Newcastle city centre on a Saturday night is too damn wild, that’s why. I became overwhelmed with a desire to go to Sunderland. And it’s not very often you hear someone say that."

"The criminal clearly wasn't expecting to find me there. He looked back at me with an expression of sheer balaclava written all over his face."

"“Nice shirt, Fletcher,” said Sergeant Murt Hourihan. “”You looking for a job in a surf store?”"

"“Who can fathom the workings of the criminal mind?” I said, trying to sound intelligent."

"Red held me at arm’s length, grinning. “Welcome to the family, Half Moon,” he said."