Raymond E. Feist

"I think I know what power can do, and what sort of men seek it."

"The path of power is a path of turns within turns."

"As I thought. That man’s got the heart of a shark, which is to say none, and the courage of a jellyfish, which is also to say none."

"“There is no place like the sea, gentlemen. Those who live on land all their lives can never truly understand. The sea is basic, sometimes cruel, sometimes gentle, and never predictable. But it is nights like this that make me thankful the gods allowed me to be a sailor.” Arutha said, “And something of a philosopher as well.” Amos chuckled. “Take any deep-water sailor who’s faced death at sea as many times as I have, and scratch him lightly. Underneath you’ll find a philosopher, Highness. No fancy words, I’ll warrant you, but a deep abiding sense of his place in the world.”"

"The war goes on. Good for the merchants, bad for the rest."

"“It would be a proper occasion for you to make some sort of entrance into court society.” “I’m sorry, Hocho,” Milamber said, “I have little desire to attend any festivals. I have been to one earlier this month, in Ontoset, as part of my studies. The dances are boring, the food tends toward the awful, and the wine is as flat as the speeches. The games are of less interest still. If this is the court society you speak of, then I’ll be fine without it.”"

"“It seems to me there are several major problems here, problems I can only guess at in terms of impact upon the Empire. “First”—he held up his index finger—“those in power are more concerned with their own grandeur than with the well-being of the Empire. And as they are those who appear to the casual eye to be the Empire, it is an easy thing not to notice.”"

"“Second, there must never be a time when the need for stability overrules the need for growth.” “But we have always grown!” objected Hochopepa. “Not true,” countered Milamber. “You have always expanded, and that seems like growth if you don’t investigate closely. But while your armies have been bringing new lands into your borders, what has happened to your art, your music, your literature, your research? Even the vaunted Assembly does little more than refine that which is already known.”"

"That you have lived as you have lived for centuries is no license for this cruelty. All here are now judged, and all are found wanting."

"The Empire must change its course, or it is doomed to fall. The rotten, weak heart of this culture cannot support its own weight much longer, and like a ngaggi tree with a rotten core, it will collapse under its own weight."

"I see myself as a servant of the gods, though that may be only my vanity speaking."

"He was always complaining of there being so much to learn and so little time to learn it. And that from a man who had lived years beyond numbering."

"“You don’t want to be King,” he said, his tone accusatory. Lyam laughed bitterly. “No sane man would.”"

"Many men do things they regret later. Only a few are granted the opportunity to make amends."

"There is only one thing I know of that a woman hates more than a man she doesn’t like paying her too much attention—and that’s lack of attention from a man she does like."

"“There are many ways to love someone. Sometimes we want to love so much, we’re not too choosy about who we love. Other times we make love such a pure and noble thing, no poor human can ever meet our vision. But for the most part, love is a recognition, an opportunity to say, ‘There is something about you I cherish.’ It doesn’t entail marriage, or even physical love. There’s love of parents, love of city or nation, love of life, and love of people. All different, all love.”"

"Love is like a lot of things, it is always best done with the head. Save mindless efforts for mindless things."

"Aye, and it’s a brave dwarf who loots a dragon’s lair."

"All creatures fear change, even the gods."

"What they teach you is useful, but never accept the proposition that just because a solution satisfies a problem, that it must be the only solution."

"I am!—he cries, and a million philosophies cry out in wonder."

"We of the Assembly support the Empire because on this world it is the single most powerful force for order—not because it is noble, or fair, or beautiful, or just. But because of it the majority of humanity can live and work without war in their homelands, can live without famine, plagues, and the other disasters of older times. And with this order around us, we of the Assembly can work unhindered."

"No disrespect to you, Tully. But don’t try to teach an old thief to steal. I know your order chops logic with the best of them, and that half your brother clerics fall into laughing fits when they hear those deadly serious young acolytes debate theological issues set aside a century ago."

"Well, knowing your own part in this is a good sign that you’re becoming a man. Most boys would have tried to justify their actions by shifting blame or by claiming some moral imperative to fight."

"“I don’t know what to say.” “Then say nothing, Pug. It makes you seem wise when everyone is babbling.”"

"“I’m not one to advise you in such matters, I fear, as I’ve had scant experience with women, of any age, let alone such young and headstrong ones.” Looking Pug in the eyes, he said, “But this much I do know, it is almost impossible in the heat of the moment to understand long-term consequences.”"

"“Our host is the sort who sees which way the wind blows before making up his mind; he waits word from the merchant before deciding if we’re prisoners or guests.” The magician chuckled. “You’ll find as you grow older that minor functionaries are the same the world over.”"

"There may be a more superstitious breed on Midkemia than sailors, but who they are I could not tell you."

"Pug questioned him with a look. “I don’t understand.” The traveler shook his head. “I don’t expect you to, Pug. Let us say that things are occurring that can be understood only by examination after the fact, with a distance of time separating the participants from the participating.”"

"When the boy had finished, the King said, “That is a wonderful tale. It is better than the versions that have reached our court, for while it is not half so heroic, it is twice as impressive for being true.”"

"One time is much like another to death. She comes when she will. So why give over your mind to worry?"

"Among man’s strange undertakings, war stood clearly forth as the strangest."

"But when you’ve seen as many different lands as I have, you learn that the more things look different, the more they are the same."

"“We have an old saying: ‘In the High Council, there is no brother.’”"

"But legends are common enough. Turn up any rock on the beach and you’ll find one. I for one prefer to look for real answers to our shortcomings, not blame them on ancient superstitions."