A thread recently popped up on /r/Fantasy (as they are wont to do) about favourite quotations from fantasy novels, and I thought I’d try and think of some of my favourites as well as shameless stealing some from the thread.
“It was the patient, cut-flower sound of a man who is waiting to die.”
From The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
This is one of my all-time favourite quotations, I’m sure I have bored my friends with my enthusiasm for it often enough.
“The soul knows no greater anguish than to take a breath that begins with love and ends with grief. But there are other anguishes, many others. They unfold as they will, and to dwell with them is to understand nothing.
Except, perhaps, this. In love, grief is a promise. As sure as Death’s nod. There will be many gardens, but the last one to visit is so very still. Not meant for lovers. Not meant for dreamers. Meant only for a single figure, there in the dark, standing alone.
Taking a single breath.”
From Toll the Hounds by Steven Erikson
Looking through these quotations and finding all the ones by Erikson not only reminded me of how good his books are, but also that I should probably read them again…
“Memories are dangerous things. You turn them over and over, until you know every touch and corner, but still you’ll find an edge to cut you.”
From The Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
Mark Lawrence’s writing is always sharp and beautiful, it was tough to try and find a quote to pick over any other (his works are full of loads of good ones) but I like this one.
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
From The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
Tolkien is, in many ways, the father of modern fantasy and a wonderful writer. Some of the phrases from his writings have become something like mantras to a lot of people (‘Not all those who wander are lost’ for example).
“It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it’s called Life.”
From The Last Continent by Terry Pratchett
No list of fantasy quotations, or probably any list about quotations, is complete without one from Terry Pratchett, and this seemed one of the most appropriate.