Brandon Sanderson

“My circumstances are unusual, Brightness.”

“Ignorance is hardly unusual, Miss Davar. The longer I live the more I come to realize that it is the natural state of the human mind. There are many who will strive to defend its sanctity and then expect you to be impressed with their efforts.”

But expectations were like fine pottery. The harder you help them, the more likely they were to crack.

… imaginary things were often the only items of real substance in people's lives.

Every man is a hero in his own story, Princess.

I try to avoid having thoughts. They lead to other thoughts, and—if you're not careful—those lead to actions. Actions make you tired. I have this on rather good authority from someone who once read it in a book.

The motivations of men. They never make sense. And they always make sense.

That's the funny thing about arriving somewhere, Vin. Once you're there, the only thing you can really do is leave again

They needed to work and improve their own lives, not wait for some external miracle.

I've always been very confident in my immaturity.

You will find that hate can unify people more quickly and more fervently than devotion ever could.

Hrathen turned to Dial. “The first step in taking control of a nation, Arteth, is the simplest. You find someone to hate.”

You have to expect a measure of subterfuge in any political engagement.