Stephen Donaldson

Quotes

1. You know, where I come from, the people who did this to a forest would be called pioneers—a very special breed of heroes, since instead of killing other human beings they concentrate on slaughtering nature itself.

   p. 460

2. 

   “We will soon know.”

   “Yes, indeed,” Covenant muttered. “Only I hate surprises. You never know when one of them is going to ruin your life.”

   p. 438

3. 

   She said that it is the responsibility of the living to justify the sacrifices of the dead. Otherwise their deaths have no meaning.

   p. 42

4. 

   “Are you so ashamed of what you were?”

   Bannon cocked a white eyebrow at the question, as if it came close to the truth. “I am not shamed,” he said distinctly. “But I am saddened that so many centuries were required to teach us the limits of our worth. We went too far, in pride and folly. Mortal men should not give up wives and sleep and death for any service—less the face of failure become too abhorrent to be endured.”

   p. 387

5. 

   The prevailing breeze from the Forest blew into his face, and for the first time in many days he was able to distinguish the tang of the season. He found that the autumn of the Land had turned its corner, traveled its annual round from joy to sorrow. The air no longer gleamed with abundance and fruition, with ripeness either glad or grim. Now the breeze tasted like the leading edge of winter—a sere augury, promising long nights and barrenness and cold.

   p. 459

6. 

   I was trying to give her something, make it up to her somehow. But that doesn’t work. When you’ve hurt someone that badly, you can’t go around giving them gifts. That’s arrogant and cruel.

   p. 407

7. 

   I have no special virtue to make me resent him. One must have strength in order to judge the weakness of others. I am not so mighty.

   p. 264

8. 

   Abruptly Loerya joined the probing. “And if there is no Creator? Or if the creation is untended?”

   “Then who is there to reproach us? We provide the meaning of our own lives. If we serve the Land purely to the furthest limit of our abilities, what more can we ask of ourselves?”

   p. 48

9. 

   Power was dreadful and treacherous. When it was not great enough to accomplish its wielder’s desires, it turned against the hands which held it.

   p. 30

10. 

    I loved you before that. I love you now. I’m just an unconscionable bastard, and I used you, that’s all. Now I regret it.

    p. 494

That’s all the quotes.

10 quotes in the collection · come back when we add more