"His further study of humanity had revealed just how much people could convince themselves that their own needs were those of the gods, and not the other way around."

"The man was embezzling demons?"

"“I thought you already knew everything.” “Knowledge is not the same thing as understanding. I have a profound need to understand. Everything.”"

"There were many Temple sorcerers in great Thasalon, which drew all men of ambition to it, whether like flies to honey or to manure a matter of opinion."

"“This is why medicine can’t be my calling,” said Pen dimly. “The demand is endless, and I’ve learned I am not. Only the gods could deal with all the world’s pain, all at once, all the time. It’s a wonder they’re not driven mad. Unless they have been, which would explain some things. Theologically speaking.”"

"Don’t borrow trouble the interest rate is much too high."

"It turns out languages are like children. Once you have six, adding a seventh hardly makes any difference."

"“Five gods avert,” said Rede. And then, after a pensive moment, “Do They?” “Not that I can tell,” said Pen. “I’ve sometimes wondered if the gods regard death not as a dreaded ending, but as a welcome beginning.” “Of what?” “I am deeply not sure. Which doesn’t stop people from making up a thousand tales.”"

"She made the best of herself through tidiness and health, not by the unearned gift that’s the blessing and curse of those born beautiful."

"Pen would pray to his God for guidance, but he never did get any back when he did that, so he supposed he must use his own judgment."

"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times begins to seem like a message to be ignored at one’s peril."

"Some poetic epics extolled heroism in warriors; Adelis the actual soldier put his faith in logistics."

"Pen spared a moment of fresh loathing for the sectarian idiocy that made even children afraid."

"Just once, Pen thought glumly, he’d like to get an answer to prayers, instead of being delivered as one."

"And that was just how it worked, wasn’t it? Happiness handed around and around, never stopping. It wasn’t something one could hoard tight like a miser. That would be like trying to hold one’s breath for later."

"Time. It did not wait for any human want, or grief, or plan. Or careful list. Nearly half her life might be behind her already. It was time to get started on the next half."

"One gives you the shirt off his back, mused Des, and the other offers to help you bury bodies. I do believe you have made some new friends, Pen!"

"He wouldn’t say pray, as he’d decided long ago not to bother the gods with questions when he didn’t really want to hear the answers."

"It didn’t seem wise to assume all had gone as planned."

"Penric smiled and advanced, feeling dimly that the first thing a man said to his intended’s respected mother probably shouldn’t be Quick, take your clothes off!"

"Assassins can cross borders where armies can’t."

"Des, it seemed, was much less terrified by this return to Cedonia than he was. Of course, a demon could not be killed exactly. Are you saying I would be a surprise? Oh, Pen. You have been a surprise from the beginning."

"Nikys had never believed that clothes made the man, but the lack of them certainly did."

"Mira does not gossip about her clients. Very rigid rule, I gather. The highest rank of Lodi courtesans don’t; that’s part of how they became the highest rank."

"No prayer addressed to my god ever returned any useful insight."

"Don’t promote your troubles beyond your rank."

"You’re worse than evil. You’re inefficient."

"Reform is resisted by everyone who has an interest in it not taking place at their expense."

"Dying is easy. Surviving is hard."

"The princess-archdivine once quipped to me that our friends are what the gods give us to make up for our families."

"This demon seemed slow to deploy even the most basic magics, but maybe dolphins didn’t think in terms of arson."

"Pen wondered at a world that hanged poor men for thievery, but celebrated great ones."

"Perhaps the absence of risk should not be mistaken for the presence of fortitude."

"Pen cleared his throat. “Do you normally try to murder people you’ve just met?” Although that was what a soldier did, he supposed."

"I can think of no greater nightmare than to lose my ability to read."

"The world is not always so friendly a place that you can afford to squander your advantages on a pointless conceit."

"I won’t dismiss it from the list just yet. But it needs verification. Everything needs verification."

"Earthworms are theologically neutral creatures, as far as I know."

"A few other works, half of which turn out to be rubbish. Always a problem with written sources, which frequently tell you far more about the person who wrote them than the subject addressed."

"Everyone talks to the gods, no one expects them to answer."

"I’d sent to my superiors in Whippoorwill twice, but have got no reply yet. And written to the divines in the neighbor vales. One said he could not help, and the other…was less helpful.” Gallen grimaced. “My prayers have fared no better.”"

"The gods do not act for our ends, but for Theirs."

"It occurred to him that the attitude of supplication was identical to that of surrender on a battlefield."

"A well-practiced prayer that he knew how to do. So he did, whispering the words aloud. In all, he was relieved that no one answered."

"“Hair shirts, really, what is the point?” She gave the impression of a faint, dramatic shudder, and Pen smiled despite himself. She added more tartly, “And it indicates a deep confusion of thinking to mistake one’s own discomfort for a benefit to another.”"

"The sharpest fall of all, from life to death."

"Heaven weeps, but free will is sacred. The meaning of yes is created by the ability to say no."

"Four thousand, so many! It matters less where I begin, as that I begin."

"Taste the betrayal of the gods, then; I have dined on it for ages."

"Talking to the gods had been a much more comfortable proposition when there had seemed no danger of Their talking back."