Assassin's Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy, #1)

by Robin Hobb

All events, no matter how earthshaking or bizarre, are diluted within moments of their occurrence by the continuance of the necessary routines of day-to-day living.

That is the trick of good government. To make folk desire to live in such a way that there is no need for its intervention.”

“Evil times have come to us, and they will be with us for a long time. It is a time when good men must create whatever weapons they can.