King of Scars (King of Scars, #1)

by Leigh Bardugo

“But it’s a very arduous path,” Nikolai said. “Who will carry my snacks?”

“Stop punishing yourself for being someone with a heart. You cannot protect yourself from suffering. To live is to grieve. You are not protecting yourself by shutting yourself off from the world. You are limiting yourself, just as you did with your training.”