Marcus

“This isn’t how it ends!” Quentin said. “I am the hero of this goddamned story, Ember! Remember? And the hero gets the reward!” “No, Quentin,” the ram said. “The hero pays the price.”
― Lev Grossman, The Magician King

“All improvements, transformations, achievements, liberations; everything you want to change about yourself and your life; everything you want to make happen and any obstacle you want to overcome, any crisis you must survive -- the prerequisite is being able to allow yourself to feel whatever it is you feel and not pretend to feel something you don't.

So the first thing you need to do if you want to truly improve your life, or just survive the worst it has to throw your way, is to go now and stand before your bathroom mirror.

And wipe that fucking smile off your face.”
― Augusten Burroughs, This Is How: Proven Aid in Overcoming Shyness, Molestation, Fatness, Spinsterhood, Grief, Disease, Lushery, Decrepitude & More. For Young and Old Alike.

“We can live like it's the first days of a better world, not the like it's the first pages of an Ayn Rand novel. Have this place, but you can't have us. We withdraw our company.”
― Cory Doctorow, Walkaway

“You took an oath to uphold the law and defend the citizens without fear or favor," said Vimes. "And to protect the innocent. That's all they put in. Maybe they thought those were the important things. Nothing in there about orders, even from me. You're an officer of the law, not a soldier of the government.”
― Terry Pratchett, Night Watch