A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle, #1)

by Ursula K. Le Guin

And the truth is that as a man’s real power grows and his knowledge widens, ever the way he can follow grows narrower: until at last he chooses nothing, but does only and wholly what he must do . . .”

yet their pleasure in being together overrode all; for the love between them was strong and steadfast, unshaken by time or chance.

“She is like a little fish, a minnow, that swims in a clear creek,” he said, “—defenseless, yet you cannot catch her.”