Quotes from Stephen R. Donaldson

I can't spend my whole life just sitting on my hands and wondering when I'm going to fade. I can't. That's worse than doing something wrong. Isn't it?

Another blast from Rivenrock shivered the air. It snatched Mhoram's head up, and he faced Covenant with tears streaming down his cheeks. It is as I have said, he breathed achingly. Madness is not the only danger in dreams.

You did not cause his despair. Had you treated him with distrust, you would have achieved nothing but the confirmation of his distress. Distrust—vindicates itself.

I'm not alive." She heard fury climbing to the top of his voice. "I'm a leper. Outcast unclean. Lepers are ugly and filthy. And abominable." His words filled her with horror and protest. "How can it be?" she moaned. "You are not—abominable. What world is it that dares treat you so?

The idea that his wedding band was some kind of talisman nauseated him like the smell of attar.

Covenant did not reply at once. He trembled also, and hand to clench himself before he could say without a tremor, Why? Why do you trust me? The Hirebrand's eyes gleamed as if he were on the verge of tears, but he was smiling as he said, You are a man who knows the value of beauty.

In perfect unison, all the townspeople vomited gouts of blood onto the pavement.

In your present state, Chosen, Desecration lies ahead of you. It does not crowd at your back.

Dark trees leaped across his vision like aghast dancers in the nacreous light.

Are you a storyteller, Thomas Covenant?" Absently he replied, "I was, once.

she could not distinguish between contrition and self-abasement; between acknowledgment and blame.

Soon Covenant was lost again; the complexities of the

When inadequate men assumed huge burdens, the outcome could only serve Despite.

it is the nature of avarice to mislead.

All paths lead to death, she said when she found her voice. This the Worm merely hastens.

everything that passes unattempted is impossible." At

she watched his face because she hoped it would betray some indication of her own reality – some flicker of interest or concentration of notice which might indicate that she was actually present with another person.

this library is another desert. A wasteland of words instead of sand.

The speed felt tremendous. And the bottom of the ravine was treacherous. She ought to control her mount somehow - slow it; steer it to safer footing. Of course. And while she was at it, she ought to defeat the Alend Monarch's army, take care of Master Gilbur and the arch-Imager Vagel, and produce peace on earth. While composing great music with her free hand. Instead of doing all that, however, she concentrated with a pure white intensity that resembled terror on simply staying in the saddle

But my arts are also pure, as a circle is pure, and in a flawed world purity cannot endure.

The purpose of life, Cirrus Kindwind had once assured him, is to choose, and to act upon the choice.

There's no such thing as failure. Sort of progress is better than nothing. Under the circumstances, it's probably impressive. We can only do what we can.

power is a dreadful thing, and that the knowledge of power dims the seeing of the wise.

He had no idea where he was headed, but he knew he had to go. On each breath that panted through his locked teeth, he whispered hate as if it were a question.