A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, #3)

by George R.R. Martin

I have seen a hundred tournaments and more wars than I would wish, and however strong or fast or skilled a knight may be, there are others who can match him. A man will win one tourney, and fall quickly in the next. A slick spot in the grass may mean defeat, or what you ate for supper the night before. A change in the wind may bring the gift of victory.”

“A queen must listen to all,” she reminded him. “The highborn and the low, the strong and the weak, the noble and the venal. One voice may speak you false, but in many there is always truth to be found.”

“If ice can burn,” said Jojen in his solemn voice, “then love and hate can mate. Mountain or marsh, it makes no matter. The land is one.”

“I never meant to steal you,” he said. “I never knew you were a girl until my knife was at your throat.” “If you kill a man, and never meant’, he’s just as dead,”

There is a tool for every task, and a task for every tool.”

Sometimes I think everyone is just pretending to be brave, and none of us really are. Maybe pretending is how you get brave, I don’t know.

Sometimes the storm winds blow so strong a man has no choice but to furl his sails.

There are old sellswords and bold sellswords, but no old bold sellswords.”

Everyone wants something, Alayne. And when you know what a man wants you know who he is, and how to move him.”

“Jon, could there be honor in a lie, if it were told for a … a good purpose?” “It would depend on the lie and the purpose, I suppose.” Jon looked at Sam.