# Quote — George RR Martin, A Game of Thrones: The Illustrated Edition

> A ruler who hides behind paid executioners soon forgets what death is.

- Author: [George RR Martin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-rr-martin.md)
- Book: [A Game of Thrones: The Illustrated Edition](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-rr-martin/a-game-of-thrones-the-illustrated-edition.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire#A_Game_of_Thrones_(1996)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-rr-martin/a-game-of-thrones-the-illustrated-edition/a-ruler-who

## More from this book

> Anger flashed in her brother’s lilac eyes. “Do you take me for a fool?”
>
> The magister bowed slightly. “I take you for a king. Kings lack the caution of common men.”

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-rr-martin/a-game-of-thrones-the-illustrated-edition/anger-flashed-in-her.md)

> Never draw your sword unless you mean to use it.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-rr-martin/a-game-of-thrones-the-illustrated-edition/never-draw-your.md)

> A craven can be as brave as any man, when there is nothing to fear. And we all do our duty, when there is no cost to it. How easy it seems then, to walk the path of honor. Yet soon or late in every man’s life comes a day when it is not easy, a day when he must choose.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-rr-martin/a-game-of-thrones-the-illustrated-edition/a-craven-can.md)