Quotes from Robin Hobb

I had been outnumbered. Outmaneuvered. They'd withheld information from me. Worse, logic and rationality were on their side.

It was odd to realize I had an emotional attachment to my own flesh. My deep desire to keep it functioning well surpassed simple avoidance of pain. A man takes pride in his body. When it is damaged, it is more than a physical thing.

To take what has happened to you and learn from it, instead of being trapped by it. Nothing is quite so destructive as pity, especially self-pity. No event in life is so terrible that one cannot rise above it.

My father had already forgotten him. He had suddenly

Men it is who think they can rule others' lives, but have no bonds to them. Do you think that to bond or not to bond is for you alone to decide? My heart is my own. I give it where I will. I will not give it to one who thrusts me aside. Nor will I obey one who denies pack and bond.

War later is almost always better than war now.

There was no hope in conversing with her when she was hungry. No matter what they discussed, it was always his fault.

No regrets, Wolf Father chided me. There is no going back to do a thing or not do a thing. There is only today. Today you must resolve to live. Each time you are given a choice, you must do the thing that will keep you alive and unhurt. Regrets are useless.

A moment of panic washed over her. There was so little time, it might even now be too late to shape them. Look at her own daughters. Keffria, who only wanted someone to tell her what to do, and Althea, who only desired that she do her own will always." p. 429

I don't think I've ever met anyone who was miserable, hungry, and helpless who was not also petty and selfish. The situation brings out the worst in everyone.

A lock does no more than keep an honest man, honest.

Some things cannot be solved," he pointed out philosophically. "Drink makes those things much more tolerable.

A dark provider skimmed lazily along above them. As it swept over their heads, it cast forth food for them.

That evening remains for me always a moment to cherish, as golden and fragrant as brandy in crystal glasses.

Understanding how or why is very seldom as useful as understanding that things are. I am.

The Golden Dawn was the first figurehead to take on life.

Sometimes," Chade observed, "It would be much easier to die for one's king than to give one's life to him.

Much insight into himself could have been gained from contemplation of these things, but Wintrow reined his mind away from it. Perhaps he did not want to know himself quite that well." p. 543

Three Ships folk know that what a person has for a mind is more important than what is between their legs. Three Ships women will not give up our place alongside our men simply to say we are part of Bingtown now.

In my opinion, men deny animals have feelings and thoughts for one basic reason: so they won't feel guilty about what they do to them.

The ship's knowledge extended to navigation, to the handling of weather and awareness of necessary maintenance.

I just sat, feeling something inside me go very still. I hoped it was my heart.

The profit from danger only pays you interest in trouble

Very little worth knowing is taught by fear," Burrich said stubbornly. And, more warmly: "It's a poor teacher who tries to instruct by blows and threats. Imagine taming a horse that way. Or a dog. Even the most knot-headed dog learns better from an open hand than a stick.