The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, #1)

by Brandon Sanderson

A little trail of red ran from the eye down the side of his face. Like crimson tears.

He also ran to work out his frustration, that boiling, churning pot of anger within. Anger at himself for failing Tien. Anger at the Almighty for creating a world where some dined in luxury while others died carrying bridges.

“Scared to go onward,” Kaladin said, “but terrified to go back to what you were.”

“Tradition is the blind witness they use to condemn us, Teft,” Kaladin said. “It’s the pretty box they use to wrap up their lies. It makes us serve them.”

Everyone else was so concerned with looking strong, with proving themselves. Was he really the only one who saw how frivolous that was? Strength for strength’s sake? What good was strength unless you did something with it?

I believe that my own morality—which answers only to my heart—is more sure and true than the morality of those who do right only because they fear retribution.”

‘Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination.’

Death comes, they whispered. Death comes to all. But life comes first. Cherish it.

A face formed before him, the face he had seen before, the aged face as wide as the sky, its eyes full of stars.