Quotes from Brandon Sanderson

Bravery isn't about what people call you, Spensa. It's about who you know yourself to be.

Ham shook his head, sitting down, pouring himself something to drink. "I don't get it, El. Why'd she attack him?" "She's loony," Spook said.

I will sing to you. As your ship burns and your soul flees, I will sing. To the contest we had.

Never trust a man who tells you good news.

Can I borrow David?" "Please, Prof," Cody said, "we're friends. You should know by now that you needn't ask something like that Ã¢â'¬Â¦ you should be well aware of my standard charge for renting one of my minions. Three pounds and a bottle of whiskey." I wasn't sure if I should be more insulted at being called a minion, or at the low price to rent me.

The skaa called Sazed holy, but at that moment he realized that he was the most profane of men. He was a creature who knew three hundred religions, yet had faith in none of them.

I don't know. 'Errorgant,' perhaps." Jasnah raised a skeptical eyebrow. "It means to be twice as certain as someone who is merely arrogant," Shallan said, "while possessing only one-tenth the requisite facts.

What they do not realize—and what you must realize—is that manipulating others is something that all people do. In fact, manipulation is at the core of our social interaction.

You are out of control, Rand al'Thor,' she declared. I do what must be done,' he said, speaking now from the shadows. He sounded exhausted. ... I hate what you just did, Rand,' Nynaeve snarled. 'No, "Hate" isn't strong enough. I loathe what you've done. What has happened to you?' Test him!' Rand whispered, voice dangerous. 'Before condemning me, let us first determine if my sins have achieved anything beyond my own damnation.

He needed more than vague explanations and abstract ideas—but those were the very soul of art. If you could explain something perfectly, then you'd never need art. That was the difference between a table and a beautiful woodcutting. You could explain the table: its purpose, its shape, its nature. The woodcutting you simply had to experience.

This is a lot more satisfying," he said, "when I have intelligent life whom I can render awed, rapt with attention for my clever verbosity." The ugly lizard-crab-thing on the next rock over clicked its claw, an almost hesitant sound. "Your right, of course," Wit said. "My usual audience isn't particularly intelligent. That was also the obvious joke, however, so shame on you.

All right," Spook said. He reached to the ground, scooping up a pile of ash. "Let's just rub this into your clothing and on your face...." Breeze froze. "I'll meet you back ath the lair," he finally said.

Ain't no fellow who regretted giving it one extra shake, but you can bet every guy has regretted giving one too few.

You may have noticed that I began my story with a quick, snappy scene of danger and tension – but then quickly moved on to a more boring discussion of my childhood. Well, that's because I wanted to prove something to you: that I am not a nice person. Would a nice person begin with such an exciting scene, then make you wait almost the entire book to read about it?

Somebody has to start. Somebody has to step forward and do what is right, because it is right. If nobody starts, then others cannot follow.

stories say something. About us, and about where we came from. They're a reminder that we have a past, a history. And a future.

Leadership is rarely about what we want, son. I think too few among the Alethi elite realize that fact.

If we must put our head into the lion's mouth, let us make certain that he chokes upon our flesh!

Exhaustion," Dalinar said, "pain, suffering. This is what victory usually feels

Cupcakes are too dainty for a Scotsman. Give him one, and he'll ask why didn't you shoot the wee cake's parents instead and serve that.

I had a splinter once," Shallan noted. "It eventually got out of hand.

We may feel in control, but we never truly are unless we understand people. Controlling our environment is no longer about blocking the wind, it's about knowing why the serving lady was crying last night, or why a particular guard always loses at cards.

If people can't tell when I'm being an idiot and when I'm being a genius, perhaps they'll assume my blunders are brilliant political maneuvers.

The original plan for this novella was for it to be 18,000 words. It ended up at around 40,000. Ah well. That just happens sometimes. (Particularly when you are me.)