Quotes from David Eddings

It's all very well to put the government in the hands of the perfect man, but what do you do when the perfect man gets a bellyache?

Trust me. - Silk

Nothing that's really worthwhile should be easy, Belgarion. If it's easy, we don't value it... --Eriond

A day in which you learn something isn't a complete loss.

Dost thou question my word, Sir Knight? Madorallen returned in an ominously quiet voice. And wilt thou then come down and put thy doubt to the test? Or is it perhaps that thou wouldst prefer to cringe doglike behind thy parapet and yap at thy betters? Oh, that was very good, Barak said admiringly.

Don't wrench your shoulder out of its socket trying to pat yourself on the back, Beldin said sourly.

When ignorance is bliss, there's folly in wisdom.

Nobles and peasants marry early. Businessmen tend to wait.

I must admit that I haven't heard of the Duchess of Erat before. You're a fortunate man, Wolf said. She's a great beauty, the man said admiringly. And has a temper to match, Wolf told him. I noticed that, the guard said. We noticed you noticing, Silk told him slyly.

There are things we know for certain. Oh? Name one. The sun's going to come up tomorrow morning. Why? It always has. Does that really mean that it always will? A faint look of consternation crossed her face. It will , won't it? Probably, but we can't be absolutely certain. Once you've decided that something's absolutely true, you've closed your mind on it, and a closed mind doesn't go anywhere. Question everything, Pol. That's what education's all about.

The unfortunate thing about working for yourself is that you have the worst boss in the world. I work every day of the year except at Christmas, when I work a half day.

If there's a noise in the woods, and there's nobody around to hear it, is it really a noise? Of course it is, she replied calmly. How did you reach that conclusion? Beldin demanded. Because there's no such thing as an empty place, uncle. There are always creatures around --wild animals, mice, insects, birds --and they can all hear. But what if there weren't? What if the woods are truly empty? Why waste your time talking about an impossibility?

it's as empty as a merchant's soul. Sorry, Kheldar, it's just an old expression. That's all right, Beldin, Silk forgave him grandly. These little slips of the tongue are common in the very elderly.

Heroes aren't allowed to be nervous. Who made up that rule? It's a known fact...

What happened to your foot? I had a little disagreement with an eagle --stupid birds, eagles. He couldn't tell the difference between a hawk and a pigeon. I had to educate him. He bit me while I was tearing out a sizable number of his wing feathers. Uncle, Polgara said reproachfully. He started it.

I want a sword not a knitting needle -Kalen

I'm hungry, Garion, and I don't think well when I'm hungry. That might explain a lot, Beldin noted blandly. We should have fed you more often when you were younger. You can be terribly offensive sometimes, do you know that? Why, yes, as a matter of fact I do.

Everything is idiocy if you choose to look at it in the proper perspective.

The first thing the boy Garion remembered was the kitchen at Faldor's farm. For all the rest of his life he had a special warm feeling for kitchens and those peculiar sounds and smells that seemed somehow to combine into a bustling seriousness that had to do with love and food and comfort and security and, above all, home. No matter how high Garion rose in life, he never forgot that all his memories began in that kitchen.

Young lady, Silk said urbanely, I think you'd be amazed at how little Polgara's concerned about who you are. Polgara? Ce'Nedra faltered. The Polgara? I thought you said that she was your sister. I lied, Silk confessed. It's a vice a have.

But if the general opinion of Mankind is optimistic then we're in for a period of extreme popularity for science fiction. If the general opinion is pessimistic, fantasy is going to hold its own.

Sparhawk grinned. If Martel finds out that he's drinking again, he'll reach down his throat and pull his heart out. Can you actually do that to a man? You can if your arm's long enough, and if you know what you're looking for.[...]

Misty Sendaria, Silk said ironically. Sometimes I'm amazed that the entire kingdom doesn't rust shut.

Impatience is a poor substitute for a well-considered plan.