Quotes from book

The Wise Man's Fear

“A tree doesn't make a thunderstorm, but any fool knows where lightning's going to strike.”

“The desire for knowledge shapes a man.”

“I know," she said. "You have a stone in your heart, and some days it's so heavy there is nothing to be done. But you don't have to be alone for it. You should have come to me. I understand.”

“That is like throwing two virgins into a bed. Enthusiasm, passion, and ignorance are not a good combination. Someone is likely to get hurt.”

“It was more exciting when I didn't know I had permission.”

“I’d heard he had started a fistfight in one of the seedier local taverns because someone had insisted on saying the word “utilize” instead of “use.”

“To be both rich and handsome was bad enough. But to have a voice like honey over warm bread on top of that was simply inexcusable.”

“I swear I've never met a man who has your knack for lack of social grace. If you weren't naturally charming, someone would have stabbed you by now.”

“When someone tells you a piece of their life, they’re giving you a gift, not granting you your due.”

“Only a fool worries over what he can’t control.”

“It’s not over if you’re still here,” Chronicler said. “It’s not a tragedy if you’re still alive.”

“… nothing in the world is harder than convincing someone of an unfamiliar truth.”

“I've always liked the moonless night best. It's easier to say things in the dark. It's easier to be yourself.”

“… hear rumors and go digging for the painful truth beneath the lovely lies. You believe you have a right to these things, but you don't. When someone tells you a piece of their life, they're giving you a gift, not granting you your due.”

“Why are you smiling?'
'I'm relieved,' I said honestly. 'I was worried I'd given myself cadmium poisoning, or I had some mysterious disease. This is just someone trying to kill me.”

“Maple. Maypole
Catch and carry.
Ash and Ember.
Elderberry.
Woolen. Woman.
Moon at night.
Willow. Window.
Candlelight.
Fallow farrow.
Ash and oak.
Bide and borrow.
Chimney smoke.
Barrel. Barley.
Stone and stave.
Wind and water.
Misbehave.”

“Why would I want to win anything other than a beautiful game?”

“Barbarian that I am, I had eaten all of it. It had tasted quite nice too. Still, I took note of this fact and resigned myself to throw away half of a perfectly good cheese if it was set in front of me. Such is the price of civilization.”

“But sometimes the best help a person can find is helping someone else.”