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‘It’s always the way, isn’t it? A civilization flowers, then a horde of grunting savages with close-set eyes show up and step on it. Malazan Empire take note.’ ‘“Never ignore the barbarians,”’ Toc muttered. ‘Emperor Kellanved’s words.’ ‘Surprisingly wise. What happened to him?’ ‘He was murdered by a woman with close-set eyes … but she was from civilized stock.
‘A pointless, senseless death.’ ‘They’re all pointless and senseless, friend. Until the living carve meaning out of them. What are you going to carve,
His vows were crumbling, his every prayer to Fener meeting with naught but silence, as if his god was indifferent to the sacrifices Itkovian had made in his name. And perhaps that is the final, most devastating truth. The gods care nothing for ascetic impositions on mortal behaviour. Care nothing for rules of conduct, for the twisted morals of temple priests and monks. Perhaps indeed they laugh at the chains we wrap around ourselves – our endless, insatiable need to find flaws within the demands of life. Or perhaps they do not laugh, but rage at us. Perhaps our denial of life’s celebration is
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I think I have just made a dreadful mistake, for all my good intentions…’ ‘That’s often the case,’ he murmured, ‘with good intentions.’
From horror, grief must be fashioned, and from grief, compassion.
Kruppe is wise – wise enough to keep silent when silence is called for, and yet wiser still to speak when wise words are required.
Disarmed, bruised and blood-smeared, his face turned away, he looked pitiful, weak and small. But that is always the way with leaders who have been broken. Whether kings or commanders, defeat withers them—
War is not a natural state. It is an imposition, and a damned unhealthy one. With its rules, we willingly yield our humanity. Speak not of just causes, worthy goals. We are takers of life.
‘No doubt there’s a tale there.’ ‘Indeed, but it’s not relevant.’ ‘Meaning you don’t know it.’ ‘Precisely.
‘Can you truly find anything worthwhile in such creatures?’ Brood asked her. ‘We are all worthwhile, sir, once we assume the burden of forgiveness and the effort of absolution.’
‘Always an even exchange,’
Of all the weapons we turn upon ourselves, guilt is the sharpest, Silverfox. It can carve one’s own past into unrecognizable shapes, false memories leading to beliefs that sow all kinds of obsessions.’
Has it not occurred to you that clinical examination of oneself is yet another obsession? What you dissect has to be dead first – that’s the principle of dissection, after all.’
The heart of wisdom is tolerance.
Diversity is worth celebrating, Humbrall Taur, for it is the birthplace of wisdom.’
betrayal, the dark-hearted slayer of faith.
We humans do not understand compassion. In each moment of our lives, we betray it. Aye, we know of its worth, yet in knowing we then attach to it a value, we guard the giving of it, believing it must be earned. T’lan Imass. Compassion is priceless in the truest sense of the word. It must be given freely. In abundance.
