Stephen R. Donaldson
40 quotes
Biography
"Part of him wanted to weep... but his purpose was rigid within him. He felt he could not bend to gentleness without breaking."
"“One word more,” Foul said, “a final caution: Do not forget whom to fear at the last. I have had to be content with killing and torment. But now my plans are laid, and I have begun. I shall not rest until I have eradicated hope from the Earth. Think on that, and be dismayed!”"
"It was clear to all there gathered that power is a dreadful thing, and that knowledge of power dims the seeing of the wise."
"In accepting a gift you honor the giver."
"A good laugh, Covenant sighed morosely. Did I do a whole life’s laughing in that little time?"
"I admit the desire. But do not tempt me. Power has a way of revenging itself upon its usurpers."
"“We have searched the seas, and have waited for the omens to come to pass.” Foamfollower paused to look thoughtfully at Covenant, then went on: “Ah, my Lords, omening is curious. So much is said—and so little made clear.”"
"Ah, it is hard to take pride in human history."
"Dreams—never forgive."
"“That was a joke. Or a metaphor.” Covenant made another effort to turn his sarcasm into humor. “I can never tell the difference.”"
"All you need to avoid despair is irremediable stupidity or unlimited stubbornness."
"Don’t talk like a damned mystic. Say something I can understand."
"It may be that hope misleads. But hate—hate corrupts. I have been too quick to hate. I become like what I abhor."
"I would say that happiness lies in serving the Land. And I would say that there is no happiness in times of war."
"War puts burdens on people without caring whether they are ready for them or not."
"Power is power. Its uses are in the hands of the user."
"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."
"No one person has the right to withhold knowledge from another. No one is wise enough."
"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."
"“That’s madness!” Covenant gasped thickly. Elena’s gaze wavered on the edge of focus, and he could not bear to look at her. “Do you think that some existence after death is going to vindicate you after you’ve simply extirpated life from the earth? That was exactly Kevin’s mistake. I tell you, he is roasting in hell!”"
"If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather hear something that makes sense."
"Dreaming is like—it’s like being a slave. Your dreams come out of all the parts of you that you don’t have any control over."
"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."
"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."
"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."