The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm (Tales from Alagaësia, #1)

by Christopher Paolini

Always there will be work, she said, walking over to the desk. The tips of her gleaming claws tapped against the stone. Always there will be those who need something of us, but you have to take care of yourself, little one. You’ve done enough for the day. Put aside your pen and let go of your worries.

Sometimes it was easier to fight a battle than to figure out how to deal with the more mundane details of life.

Worrying about the time is exactly what you need curing of. Does the eagle worry about the length of the day? Does the bear or the deer or the fish in the sea? No. So why should you? Chew what you can and leave the rest for tomorrow.

“Because a scar means you survived. It means you’re tough and hard to kill. It means you lived. A scar is something to admire.”

Beware of shadows that walk, human. There are strange forces at work in the world.

Strive for wisdom! Or at least a decrease in idiocy. —Angela of Many Names

All the gold in the world is worthless if you are wandering in an endless desert without a supply of water.

Elva just stared, a wise conversational technique that I recommend in a great many situations.

Just because something was difficult or uncomfortable didn’t mean it wasn’t worth doing.