Quotes from Brandon Sanderson

People are discord," Syl said. "What does that mean?" "You all act differently and think differently. Nothing else is like that—animals act alike (...) There's harmony in that. But not in you—it seems that no two of you can agree on anything. All the world does as it is supposed to, except for humans. Maybe that's why you so often want to kill each other.

How can someone be abstractly defenseless?

Para muchos, una existencia de agonía es mejor que ninguna existencia

To a drone I'd have a tiny heat signature, like a squirrel or something. A secretly very, very deadly squirrel.

freedom was not lack of responsibilities—it was being able to do what was right, without having to worry if it was also wrong.

Me considero un hombre de principios. Pero ¿qué hombre no se considera tal? Incluso el asesino, según he advertido, interpreta sus acciones como «morales». Tal vez otra persona, al leer mi vida, me considere un tirano religioso. Puede llamarme arrogante. ¿Qué hace que la opinión de ese hombre sea menos válida que la mía propia? Supongo que todo se reduce a una sola cosa: al final, soy yo quien tiene los ejércitos de su parte.

It is not at all polite to point out a crusty old pessimist's dark inner secret.

Jasnah was different. She gave Shallan a topic and the freedom to pursue it as she wished. Jasnah offered encouragement and speculation, but nearly all of their conversations turned to topics like the true nature of scholarship, the purpose of studying, the beauty of knowledge and its application.

Face after face. Life after life. Overpowering, intoxicating, alive. Breathing, and crying, and laughing, and being. So many hopes, so many lives, so many dreams.

To my father and son,'" Grandpa Smedry read, adjusting his Oculator's Lenses as he examined the note. "'I am bad at saying goodbye. Goodbye.'" He lowered the paper, shrugging.

If nobody changes the world, if nobody works to make it better, then we stagnate.

Marasi had abandoned aspirations toward politics in her youth, and had recently abandoned the solicitors as well. The thing was, those professions had one important flaw: They were populated entirely with attorneys and politicians.

Logically," Shallan said, "the bright side is the only side you can look on, because the other side is dark.

If you wish to become a storyteller, here is a hint: sell your labor, but not your mind.

If I am to become a delicate cloud upon the sky, I must first convince the ground that I am not abandoning her. Like a worried lover, sure, she must be comforted and reassured that I will return following my dramatic and regal ascent to the sky.

He says he's letting the Stormfather judge you," Moash added. "Jezerezeh, king of Heralds. He says that if you deserve to live, you will…." He trailed off. He knew as well as the others that unprotected men didn't survive highstorms, not like this.

Our laws will claim innocent men—for all judges are flawed, as is our knowledge. Eventually, you will execute someone who does not deserve it. This is the burden society must carry in exchange for order.

You have to learn when to care. And when to let go. You'll grow calluses.

I'm always truthful as well. So full of truth, in fact, that sometimes it squeezes the lies right out my lips. There isn't a place for them inside, you see.

There is a saying in the Steel Ministry," Yomen finally said. " 'Sit down to dine with evil, and you will ingest it with your meal.

What was a god who only made demands? Nothing but a tyrant with a different name.

There are no good men, Bleeder said. Choice is an illusion, lawman. There are those created to be selfish and there are those created to be selfless. This does not make them good or evil, any more than the ravaging lion is evil when compared to the placid rabbit.

But Ã¢â'¬Â¦ that law was the product of the many. Szeth had been exiled because of the consensus of the many. He had served master after master, most of them using him to attain terrible or at least selfish goals. You could not arrive at excellence by the average of these people. Excellence was an individual quest, not a group effort.

Behold!" I bellowed. "'Tis a foul beast of the nether-hells. Stand behind me and I shall slay it!" "Oh, Alcatraz," Bastille breathed. "Thou art awesomish and manlyish.