opal-florilegium

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Too often it is that men think those who serve are doing it from inferiorness or weakness.

Tad Williams, Binabik: The Stone of Farewell, pg. 235

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   “We are very small,” Simon said. …

   “So are the stars...” Sludig murmured, “But they each one burn as bright as they can.”

     - Tad Williams: The Stone of Farewell, pg. 202

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'Mourning is for home'

Tad Williams, Binabik (Qanuc saying): The Stone of Farewell, pg. 201

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It may or may not be foolishness to pray to the gods, but there is certainly being no wisdom in cursing them.

Tad Williams, Binabik: The Stone of Farewell (pg. 191)

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   “We are having a task of great fear and very great difficulty, Simon- it may even be that there is no possibility of succeeding- but it is not a task we can be fleeing. . . if we are not trying, then there is no chance of anything but this antlike crushing, so we must try. There is always something beyond even the worst of bad times. We may die, but the dying of some may mean living for others. That is not much to cling to, but it is a true thing in any case.”

- Tad Williams, Binabik: The Stone of Farewell, pg. 191

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Honor is a wonderful thing, but it is a means, not an end.

Tad Williams, Prester John: The Dragonbone Chair pg. 306

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   “Tell me, Father Dinivan,” the count said, turning to the priest, “what does your holy book have to say on the art of politicking?”

   “Well,... the Book of Aedon speaks often of the trials of nations... One of my favorite passages has always been: ‘If your enemy comes to speak bearing a sword, open your door to him and speak, but keep your own sword at hand. If he comes to you empty handed, greet him the same way. But if he comes to you bearing gifts, stand on your walls and cast stones down on him.’ “

- Tad Williams, Count Eolair and Father Dinivan: The Dragonbone Chair, pg. 291

[opal-florilegium]

Scullion boys are not from fish spawned, or chicken eggs hatched. They can be thinking like the wisest wise folk, if only they do not fight entering knowledge; if they do not say 'can't' or 'won't'.

Tad Williams, Binabik: The Dragonbone Chair, pg. 225

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A man whose wisdom is true does not sit in waiting for the world to come at him piece by piece for proving its existence! … The wise man is not waiting for the realness of the world to prove itself to him. How can one be an authority before the experiencing of this realness? My master taught me- and to me it seems chash, meaning correct- that you must not defend against the entering of knowledge.

Tad Williams, Binabik: The Dragonbone Chair, pg. 225

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'Make Philosophy your evening guest, but do not let her stay the night.'

Tad Williams, Qanuc saying: The Dragonbone Chair, pg. 219

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   “I don’t even feel bad anymore about . . . about that man yesterday.” . . . 

   “You do not feel bad about him being dead, or about making him dead?”

   “I don’t understand.” said Simon. “What do you mean? What’s the difference?”

   “There is as much difference as between a big rock and a little, little bug- but I shall leave the pondering to you.”

- Tad Williams, Simon and Binabik: The Dragonbone Chair, pg. 219

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'If the bears do not eat you, it is home.'

Tad Williams, Qanuc saying: The Dragonbone Chair, pg.215

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Nothing is without cost. There is a price to all power, and it is not always obvious.

Tad Williams, Doctor Morgenes: The Dragonbone Chair, pg. 120

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You cannot exert force without paying for it, Simon. If you steal a pie, someone else goes hungry. If you ride a horse too fast, it dies. If you use the Art to open doors, Simon, you have little choice of houseguests.

Tad Williams, Doctor Morgenes: The Dragonbone Chair, pg. 119

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     “But why won’t you teach me the laws?”

     “For the same reason I wouldn’t give an burning torch to an infant sitting on a pile of straw. The infant- and no insult is meant, Simon- is not prepared for the responsibility.”

- Tad Williams, Doctor Morgenes: The Dragonbone Chair, pg. 119

[opal-florilegium]

There are many kinds of glory.

Tad Williams, Doctor Morgenes: The Dragonbone Chair, pg. 118

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I spoke to you of traps, of searching for knowledge as though hunting an elusive creature. Well, where I and other knowledge seekers go out to our traps to see what bright beast we may have been lucky enough to capture, Pyrates throws open his door at night and waits to see what comes in.... The problem with Pyrates' approach, is that if you do not like the beast that comes to call, it is hard- very, very hard- to get the door closed again.

Tad Williams, Doctor Morgenes: The Dragonbone Chair, pg. 80