Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1)

by Brandon Sanderson

New tastes are like new ideas, young man—the older you get, the more difficult they are for you to stomach.”

“When you get to be my age, you have to be very careful where you waste your energy. Some battles just aren’t worth fighting.”

“the entire point of life is to find ways to get others to do your work for you. Don’t you know anything about basic economics?”

We can use all of the powers, but we can’t be everywhere. A successful crewleader needs to know how to divide labor,

The right belief is like a good cloak, I think. If it fits you well, it keeps you warm and safe. The wrong fit, however, can suffocate.”

Let them see my weakness, and let them see me overcome it.

he smiled because that was what he did. That was how he proved to the Lord Ruler—and to himself—that he wasn’t beaten.

that’s kind of what trust is, isn’t it? A willful self-delusion?

“If you wish to repay me, then stand up just a little straighter. Be a little less afraid. They can be beaten.”

“Belief isn’t simply a thing for fair times and bright days, I think. What is belief—what is faith—if you don’t continue in it after failure?”

Anyone can believe in someone, or something, that always succeeds, Mistress. But failure…ah, now, that is hard to believe in, certainly and truly. Difficult enough to have value, I think.”