Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians (Alcatraz, #6)

by Brandon Sanderson

Arrogance is easier. Arrogance is safer. Because if the terrible thing that happened is all your fault, there’s still the chance that you’ll be able to stop future terrible things from happening.

Sometimes blaming yourself feels better than admitting that the fate of the world may be out of your control.

What I hope you learn is that heroes aren’t perfect people. We aren’t all-powerful beings with absolute control. We are deeply flawed. We make mistakes, we act rashly, and sometimes we fail. Heroes, I think, are the people who get up and try anyway, even when we know the odds are stacked against us. Even when the world is broken beyond repair. We do our best to protect others, to keep bad things from happening, and to stand up to people who cause destruction and pain—even when we don’t entirely succeed at it. And then afterward, we live with the consequences. Which may be the hardest part of all.