Rhythm of War (The Stormlight Archive, #4)

by Brandon Sanderson

He stayed in step right behind Jasnah, silvery-sheathed sword on his hip, his lips drawn ever so slightly to a smile. The type that made you think he must be considering a joke about you that no one had the decency to say to your face.

She could hide a great deal in the spaces between those letters.

“I guess … we’ve both become more lax over the years,” Dalinar said. “I think I’ve stayed the same person,” Adolin said. “I’m just more willing to let you be disappointed by that person.”

Old enough to be seen as a full adult. Young enough to not believe it yet.

“Thing is,” Sebarial said, “I kind of respect the old goof. If I manage to live as long as him, I can imagine throwing up my hands and trying to take over the world. I mean … at that point, what do you have to lose?” “Your integrity.” “Integrity doesn’t stop men from killing, Brightness,” Sebarial said. “It just makes them use different justifications.”

A different life, one that she wanted rather than one she thought she should want.

And if a tool seemed broken at first glance, perhaps you were simply applying it to the wrong task.

Shallan thought she had never in her life seen something so graceful. She didn’t deserve to see something so divine. As if merely by gazing at it, she sullied it with the cares of a world that it should never touch.

Nale standing with a group of scholars and unrolling a large writ, filled with writing. “The law cannot be moral,” Nale said to them. “But you can be moral as you create laws. Ever must you protect the weakest, those most likely to be taken advantage of. Institute a right of movement, so that a family who feels their lord is unrighteous can leave his area. Then tie a lord’s authority to the people who follow him.”

Eventually Dalinar had done what any good commander did when faced by such persistent mass insubordination: He backed down. When good men disobeyed, it was time to look at your orders.

Sometimes ignorance was an advantage, as you weren’t limited by the expectations of the past.