David Gemmell: Doing

Source: Drenai series, Quest for Lost Heroes, Ch. 4
Context: Never let anger, or outrage, or fear affect you. That is easy advice to give, but hard to follow. Men will bait you, they will laugh at you, they will jeer. But it is just noise, Kiall. They will hurt the people you love. They will do anything to make you angry or emotional. But the only way you can make them suffer is to win. And to do that you must remain cool.

Source: Drenai series, The King Beyond the Gate, Ch. 8

Source: Drenai series, The King Beyond the Gate, Ch. 13
Context: 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... How do you know? You do not! You listened to the voice of your inadequacy, and because you believed, you are in my power. If I draw my sword, you are dead!

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 23
Context: This enterprise was doomed, but we do what we can and do what we must. So a young farmer with wife and children decides to go home. Good! He shows a sense that you and I will never understand. They will sing songs about us, but he will ensure that there are people to sing them. He plants. We destroy.

White cloaks show the dirt more thank black, and silver tarnishes.
Source: Drenai series, The King Beyond the Gate, Ch. 10

Source: Drenai series, The King Beyond the Gate, Ch. 18
Context: "We don't seem to be overflowing with luck." "You make your own. I put no faith in gods, Lake. Never have. If they exist, they care very little— if at all— about ordinary mortals. I put my faith in me, and do you know why? Because I have never lost!"

ibid
Drenai series, Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf
Context: "I thought you were the best," she chided. "Fathers always seem that way," he said dryly. "But no. With bow or knife I am superb. But with the sword? only excellent." "And so modest. Is there anything at which you do not excel?"

Source: Drenai series, The King Beyond the Gate, Ch. 2

Source: Drenai series, The King Beyond the Gate, Ch. 20
Context: "We irritated him, he told me. Why did he get himself killed for us?" "Because he was a hero. And that is what heroes do. You understand?"

Source: White Wolf

Source: Lion of Macedon

Source: Lord of the Silver Bow

Source: Rigante series, Stormrider, Ch. 2

Source: Rigante series, Midnight Falcon, Ch. 5

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 18

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 15

Source: Drenai series, The King Beyond the Gate, Ch. 23

Source: Drenai series, The King Beyond the Gate, Ch. 14

Source: Drenai series, Legend, Pt 1: Against the Horde, Ch. 23