Age of Myth Quotes

“Fools believe silence is a void needing to be filled; the wise understand there's no such thing as silence.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“That’s what a good wife does, keeps your dreams alive even when you don’t believe anymore”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“I swear, the reason for full moons is so the gods can more clearly see the mischief they create.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“I think comfort can be a curse, an addiction that without warning or notice erodes hope.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“Remember, it’s easier to believe an outlandish lie confirming what you suspect than the most obvious truth that denies it,”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“And if you can't trust an ancient talking tree, what was the point of having one?”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“Fulfillment comes from striving to succeed, to survive by your own wits and strength. Such things make each of us who we are.” Using the blanket, he rubbed his hair. “You lose that in captivity, lose yourself, and that loss saps your capacity for joy. I think comfort can be a curse, an addiction that without warning or notice erodes hope. You know what I mean?” He looked at each of them, but no one answered. “Live with it long enough and the prison stops being the walls or the guards. Instead, it’s the fear you can’t survive on your own, the belief you aren’t as capable, or as worthy, as others. I think everyone has the capacity to do great things, to rise above their everyday lives; they just need a little push now and then.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“I’m Tekchin,” he said, exchanging an empty gourd for a full one. “The handsomest and most skilled of the Galantians.”
This brought an immediate and loud moan from the other Fhrey.
“That scar suggests otherwise,” Moya replied. “On both counts.”
More laughter, louder this time.
“Pretty and smart,” Tekchin said to the others in Fhrey.
Persephone was thankful Moya couldn’t understand their language. A comment like that would have been tantamount to putting torch to tinder.
“This?” Tekchin returned to Rhunic and touched his cheek. “Naw, this is a beauty mark given to me by a special friend. He’s dead now, of course, but he was a gifted opponent and aiming for my throat. I can assure you it proves my skill. So what’s your name, or shall I call you Doe-Eyes?”
“Doe-Eyes? Seriously?” Moya rolled her same-said eyes in disbelief. “I would have expected something less sappy from a god. My name is Moya. Call me anything else and you’ll receive a second beauty mark.”
Tekchin struggled but failed to resist smiling. Behind him, the rest of the Fhrey laughed once more.
“God, eh?” Tekchin said.
“Don’t get too excited. Apparently it’s only a rumor.”
“I like you, Moya.”
“Most people do,” she replied.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“Spring had let go of Winter's hand and was reaching out to Summer”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“Power doesn't equal worth. Wisdom is a far greater virtue.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“When faced with certain death, running is sensible, but I think a man can make an unhealthy habit of it. Running can take on an importance of its own and become an excuse to avoid living a normal life.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“How are you speaking?” Gryndal asked.
“With my mouth,” she said. “Does everyone play that game?”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“Fulfillment comes from striving to succeed, to survive by your own wits and strength.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“Caught early enough, the waking forest had no time to disguise itself into something mundane. This was a place of enchantments, a place where anything could happen.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“„So you have a pretty sword. So what? What does that prove? You don‘t look like a god killer to me. I‘m Donny of Nadak, and you look like a pair of liars hoping for a free meal.“ His words silenced the room, an uneasy void interrupted only by the pop and hiss of the fire. Raithe looked over at Malcolm and whispered, „See. THIS is the problem with your plan. There‘s ALWAYS going to be a Donny.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“Suri had a wolf named Minna. They were the best of friends and roamed the forest together. She had tattoos, was always filthy, afraid of nothing, and could do magic. From the first time I met her, I wanted to be Suri… I still do.
—THE BOOK OF BRIN”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“That night there was more than one killer in the forest, the next day a lot more ghosts.--The Book of Brin”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“They’ll probably gang up on you this time.” “Lovely! Any advice?” “Pray.” “Which god?” “All of them.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“She’s different.”
“Everyone is different.”
“Then let’s say I like the ways in which she’s different. A wise man once told me no man can escape death, but it’s how we run that defines us. And if I have to run, I think I’d like to go where she’s going.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“Do you see the butterfly?” Suri grinned with enthusiasm.
“Yes, I see it, but—”
“So stunning and delicate; it’s marvelous. No one can see a butterfly and not stop to admire it. I’d love to be one. To go to sleep and wake up a season later with such beautiful wings and the ability to flutter about. That’s the most wonderful sort of magic, don’t you think? To change, to grow, to fly. But…” She paused. “I wonder what the cost would be.” The smile diminished once more. “There’s always a cost when it comes to magic. I suspect there is a great price to go from lowly caterpillar to glorious butterfly.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“The more you know about the past, the easier it is to divine the future.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“That’s what a good wife does, keeps your dreams alive even when you don’t believe anymore.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“If given a choice between a potentially great hardship and doing nothing, people gravitate toward what was most familiar and comfortable. That was why leadership was needed. To do what was necessary rather than what was easy.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“I think comfort can be a curse, an addiction that without warning or notice erodes hope. Live it long enough and the prison stops being the walls or the guards. Instead, it's the fear you can't survive on your own, the belief you aren't as capable, or as worthy, as others. I think everyone has the capacity to do great things, to rise above their everyday lives; they just need a little push every now and then."
-Malcolm”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“No god, goddess, or spirit would ever inhabit or employ a chicken.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“What length will a mother go to on behalf of her child? How long is time? What is the depth of love? —”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“Raithe enjoyed a good campfire. Something comforting about the dancing light, the smell of smoke, and the way his face and chest were hot but his backside cold. He sensed a profound meaning in this duality as well as in the enigma of flickering flames. The fire spirit spoke in spitting sparks and shifts of choking smoke, but the meaning of each remained a mystery. Everything in nature was that way. All of it spoke to him--to everyone--in a language few could understand. What secrets, what wisdom, and what horrors might he learn if only he knew what it all meant.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“Ferrol’s Law was created for ordinary Fhrey, not the Miralyith,” Gryndal said. “The Art has elevated us, and we cannot be bound by the law of a god when we have become gods ourselves.”
Arion saw Mawyndulë nodding, a look of wonder and admiration in his eyes. He would be the next fane, and it was her responsibility to make sure he was a good ruler. She stepped forward.
“How wonderful! I wasn’t aware we had achieved divinity. When exactly did that happen?”
Her tone caught them all by surprise.
“And now that we have,” she continued, “please tell me when we’ll be having tea with brother Ferrol? My mother would love his recipe for vegetable soup. As for myself, I’d like some advice on how to create my own race of people, for that ability has eluded me.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“Strange game, this stating the obvious,” Suri said, shaking her head. She got up and joined Minna at the woodpile. “Pointless, but popular. Everyone plays it. You’re eating our bread. That isn’t your bed. You have a wolf. But as you can see, I’m getting the knack of it. Tura told me to blend in at villages, especially the dahls. She said people who live inside walls are crazy and can be dangerous. Touched animals are, too. Cursed by the gods, sort of like you, and even a tainted squirrel’s bite can make you that way.”
“I merely meant, well…” Persephone hesitated. “I didn’t think you’d still be here.”
Suri pointed at the treetops visible over the rear wall of the dahl where the gray spears had become a curtain of green. “Was waiting on the leaves.”
Persephone laughed. “It’s been two weeks.”
The mystic twisted her face, thinking hard. “You have two ears.” She smiled proudly. “I’m starting to see the fun of this. Using a part of what another person says makes it harder, doesn’t it? Probably gets more challenging late in winter when you’ve been sealed up for months— I assume you can’t repeat the same thing twice, right?”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth

“Why are you here?”
“Oh— I came to tell the chieftain we’re going to die.” The girl said it quickly and with the same casual indifference as if she were announcing that the sun sets in the evening.
Persephone narrowed her eyes. “Excuse me? What did you say? Who’s going to die?”
“All of us.”
“All of whom?”
“Us.” The girl looked puzzled, but this time Persephone wasn’t certain if it was the tattoos or not.
“You and I?”
Suri sighed. “Yes— you, me, the funny man with the horn at the gate, everyone.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Myth