"Cruelty, rage, grief — and something others carelessly name evil — can reduce the strange collation of profanity and beauty which makes up each of us to an inanimate lump of decaying meat."
"It would be another day ruled by this world’s new gods: gold and power."
"‘There is no such thing as a cheerful poem [...] Happiness writes in water, not ink.’"
"‘I see I have shocked you all a little. But to be a poet is to accept the responsibility of speaking the truth! No matter what the cost to my personal safety [...] in matters of men and this world. I’m a poet, not a complete fool…’"
"The truth is always the truth."
"Do intellect and morality count for nothing in the way the future unfolds? [...] Greed is our king, and corruption is his servant."
"There is truth in what you say. Truth is a dangerous muse. One dies for the truth."
"I dislike talk of the Gods, who taunt us with their promises, and whose disappointments we must always accept."
"Maybe I’ve finally learned the bitter truth that I can’t beat them, even if I’ll never join them. But I’m not going to lose the one thing I can still call my own: my life. And you should wise up and do the same, especially with a new child on the way."
"My old friend. I know you see the reality of the streets, and the miseries of the people, and that is a valuable perspective. But remember the world of the wealthy, the priests and the nobles also suffers from dangerous tribulations. The two are not mutually exclusive."
"We need strong, educated women to help us build a better world."
"Conflict defines nations. Enemies justify armies. Wars glorify generals. Without his great enemy to give him purpose and meaning, he will be significantly diminished. He will have to come to terms with us."