Quotes from Steven Erikson

But what did Tattersail teach you? "If things get too hot," he said, "pull out, Toc. Ride

such states existed only in comparison

She thought to resume crawling, then consciousness slipped away again.

Sighing, Kruppe reached into the small purse strapped to his belt, probed within the leather pouch, then, brows lifted in sudden dismay: 'Dearest Meese, yet another discovery…

Weakness. Kneel before it, child. Make of it a thing to worship. There is no point in fighting - the world's sadness is far more powerful than you can ever hope to be, and that is what you must come to understand.

Perhaps that is the truth of madness, when a mind can do nothing but make endless lists of the mundane tasks awaiting it, as proof of its sanity. Mend those nets. Wind those strands. See? I have not lost the meaning of my life.

I so dislike moments of revelation, Captain. One is invited to infer all manner of deliberation leading us to this place, this time. When the truth of it is chance and mischance rule our every step.

Life stumbles on – although the exception is none other than Kruppe himself, for whom life dances. Extraordinary, how such truth rubs so many so wrongly; why, can one's very existence prove sufficient for such inimical outrage? Seems it can, oh yes, most certainly. There are always those, dear friend, for whom a wink is an insult, a smile a taunt. For whom humour alone is cause for suspicion, as if laughter was sly contempt.

It clearly hasn't occurred to either of you that maybe Fiddler wants it that way. Wants to be called Strings, now, because his old life is gone, and with the old name comes bad memories, and he's had enough of those.

is it not true that, from one year to the next, we each ourselves are capable of changes so fundamental that our present selves can in no reasonable way be considered equal to our past selves? If the rule does not apply even within our own individual lives, how can one dare hope to believe that it pertains collectively?

Not all things about oneself were likeable. So she had wept for her flaws, for her weaknesses and for her humanity. Before two witnesses who no doubt had their own stories, their own reasons to grieve.

Marching on a promise never given

Ublala, destiny is the fate you find for yourself. Many hold to the belief that it is preordained, as if the future was already decided and there is nothing you can do to escape it. I do not. Each of us is free to decide.

Black, scorched scars crossed the battlefield as if a god's claws had swept down to join the slaughter.

Absi Kire. Autumn Promise.

She glared at him. 'You've started, haven't you?' 'No, lass. You did. Remember what I said about natural talent? You've got it by the bucketful.' 'I never cry,' she said as he led her off the trail into the adjacent forest. 'Of course not,' he replied. 'You've got the warren right there in your head, and you've spent most of your life manipulating it like a High Mage. Anything to keep going, right?

Duiker said, a wave of sorrow flooding him.

Ich möchte immer noch mehr über diese alten Frauen wissen, die Welten wie diese hier träumen.

You're the one needing a bath,' the marine said. The Daru's expression displayed shock, then dismay. 'Outrageous notion. Sufficient layers of sweet scent applied over sufficient years, nay, decades, have resulted in a permanent and indeed impervious bouquet of gentlest fragrance.' He waved his plump, pale hands. 'A veritable aura about oneself to draw lovestruck butterflies—

The belief system, with all its ancestor worship, is anathema to progress, or so I have concluded given the evidence.

Taking up the sword is the last act of desperate men. Mark my words and find yourself a more worthy dream.

A Book of Prophecy opens the door. You need a second book to close it.

your mind, it would seem, these are but titles. Responsibilities one grows into, as it were. But the truth of it is, the title awaits only those who have already grown into a person worthy of the responsibility.

Well, everyone had his secrets. And few are worth sharing. Unless you enjoy losing friends.