Tress of the Emerald Sea

by Brandon Sanderson

“Everything is extraordinary about you, Tress,” her mother said. “That’s why nothing in particular stands out.”

Lem nodded. “It is. But a terrible idea executed brilliantly has to be better than a brilliant idea executed terribly. I mean, look at pelicans.”

“No,” Tress said. “But maybe we can take a whole lot of little steps that, when looked at together, might seem brilliant to somebody who doesn’t know us.”

Do not let memory chase you.

Enjoy memories, yes, but don’t be a slave to who you wish you once had been.

Those memories aren’t alive. You are.

With a few tips, he wasn’t so boring after all. Secretly, I’ll tell you that you aren’t either. Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to lower your value. Don’t trust them. They know they can’t afford you otherwise.