Quotes from Christopher Paolini

The sands of time cannot be stopped. Years pass whether we will them or not... but we can remember. What has been lost may yet live in memories.

With her jaws and talons, Saphira tore through an Urgal.

Root of a tree, fruit of a vine, let me pass by this blood of mine.

You shouldn't let him hit you so much observed saphira Yes I realize that' he growled. Do you want me to knock him over for you? No...not today.

From now on, I promise I wil consult with you before I do anything you don't expect. Is that acceptable? Only if it involves weapons, magic, kings, or family members, she said. Or flowers. Or flowers, she agreed.

The debate raged on for so long, at last Saphira had interrupted with a roar that shook the walls of the command tent. Then she said, I am sore and tired, and Eragon is doing a poor job of explaining himself. We have better things to do than stand around yammering like jackdaws, no? ... Good now listen to me. It was reflected Eragon, hard to argue with a dragon.

The universe wasn't ideal, but it was hardly a prison. After all, you had to exist somewhere; it might as well be here.

It's like trying to herd a flock of geese," said Orik. "They're always trying to go off on their own, they make an obnoxious noise, and they'll bite your hand first chance they get.

Live the present, remember the past, and fear not the future-Saphira in Eldest

Heart broken-he felt a deep ache in his chest, like that of a sore muscle, and each beat of his heart pained him

Islanzadi sighed, and suddenly appeared tired. "Ormomis may have been your proper teacher, but you have proved yourself to be Brom's heir, not Oromis's. Brom is the only person who managed to entangle himself in as many predicaments as you. Like him, you seem compelled to find the deepest patch of quicksand and then dive into it." Eragon hid a smile, pleased by the comparison.

He had reached his goal. He had climbed the unclimbable mountain

Understanding begets empathy and compassion even for the meanest beggar - Oromis

Farming is backbreaking work, but at least it is honest labor. This killing isn't honest. It is thievery… the thievery of men's lives, and no right-minded person should aspire to it.

If you could have stopped it, or if you could have escaped but you didn't, then you would have lost my respect. But you did everything you could, and when you could do no more, you made peace with your fate, and you didn't rail needlessly against it. That is wisdom, not weakness.

He who stands like a pilar dies in battle. He who bends like a reed is triumphant!

Give men your ear, but not your heart. Show respect for those in power, but don't follow them blindly. Judge with logic and reason, but comment not.

Things that change and are lost, that is what's worth preserving.

No... I'll stay, said Eragon shakily, wiping his mouth. He avoided looking at the gruesome sight before them. Who could have done... He could not force out the words. Brom bowed his head. Those who love the pain and suffering of others. They wear many faces and go by many disguises, but there is only one name for them : evil. There is no understanding it. All we can do is pity and honor the victims.

The hardest lesson in life is learning to accept that there are some things we can't change.

It's not the wolves out there, said Eragon, hugging himself. It's the wolves in here. He tapped the middle of his forehead

Book should go where they will be most appreciated, and not sit unread, gathering dust on a forgotten shelf, don't you agree?

Eragon waited several minutes to be sure it was gone before he returned to clearing the rubble. Maybe i should just call myself Snail Vanquisher, he muttered as he rolled a section of a pillar across the courtyard. Eragon Shadeslayer, Vanquisher of Snails....I would strike fear into the hearts of men wherever I went.

One could argue that all that really matters is that we learn to deal with where we are at any given moment, not where we were.