Nolyn Quotes

“Forever, he discovered, was brief when measured against eternity.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Nolyn

“but realized he’d meant no malice. Words came and went, and with time many changed their definitions. The intent behind the words was what mattered. Sephryn also knew that if everyone took offense at everything, society was doomed.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Nolyn

“To say nothing can change because it never has is lazy and self-defeating.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Nolyn

“The legion is governed by corrupt men who act according to their own best interest and pass on that example to their subordinates.” “That’s inevitable in any organization,”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Nolyn

“Words came and went, and with time many changed their definitions. The intent behind the words was what mattered. Sephryn also knew that if everyone took offense at everything, society was doomed.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Nolyn

“Suri once told him his feelings were the sounds his soul heard when listening to the world singing the music of truth.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Nolyn

“Life is full of risk, Nolyn,” his mother said. “But you should never let that hold you back. You can’t let fear stop you from living. Just make certain the chances you take are worth the peril.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Nolyn

“Equal doesn’t mean ‘the same.’ Humans are equal to one another, and yet, no two are identical. The members of your squad are superior to other members of the legion. Among humans, they are the elite. And yes, being the best affords certain privileges. They are called rewards. Without them, there is little incentive to be the best, and no one wants a society of mediocrity. Also, it would be a travesty of justice for Fhrey to be judged by a court of humans. People—even Fhrey—tend to resent their superiors, and such a thing would only invite spiteful attacks.” The way he spoke, the manner in which he said things, the sheer magnitude of his confidence made every word sound true. But”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Nolyn

“Humans, you may have noticed, have the life span of gnats,” his father went on. “They learn a job, just become proficient at it, and then they die. Reliability comes with age. To run an empyre this size, I need stable leaders, not power-hungry, short-lived humans. That way invites disaster. It’s all quite romantic, this notion of a people having a say in how they are ruled, but the reality is that humans are not capable of long-term thinking. It’s not their fault. Their short existence reduces the distance of their vision. They focus only on today, or tomorrow, and frequently fixate on yesterday. That’s no way to guide an empyre. When the fate of the world is in your hands, gambling is an unaffordable luxury, and idealism is often burned on the altar of reality. Longevity grants knowledge and experience that humans couldn’t possibly obtain in their half a century. When choosing who should fill a position, emotion—or a sense of social justice—should never have a say. The choice must be determined by who can do the job the best. You wouldn’t send your worst soldiers into battle to defend your home just because they feel left out. When the future is at stake, you send your best and brightest, the elite of your society. That is what the Instarya are. Your mistake is seeing us as different. You’re focusing on race instead of common sense. Your time among the rank and file has caused you to see the Instarya as something other than equal members of the empyre.” He’s accusing”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Nolyn

“was certain it was punishment for something, but I was wrong. It was a gift. Couldn’t have convinced me of it at the time, but that’s what it was. By suffering more than everyone else, I grew strong, and because I didn’t complain, I gained the respect of my peers. My father forever gagged those who would point fingers and say I had it easy or that I was weak because I was born privileged. His poor treatment made me their equal. Instead of servants, my father gave me brothers. Instead of resentment, I was gifted respect. In place of doubt, I had earned confidence in myself and in the eyes of those around me. In my ignorance, what I had believed to be unwarranted cruelty was love—at least the sort showed by an Instarya to a son.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Nolyn

“Nyphron’s words were true. And Nolyn realized they applied equally to becoming emperor and to just growing up.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Nolyn

“When the fate of the world is in your hands, gambling is an unaffordable luxury, and idealism is often burned on the altar of reality.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Nolyn

“Nothing is safe. Nothing worthwhile, that is. Minna will either let you or eat you.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Nolyn

“Prymus? May I have a word?” Demetrius asked. Given how little the man had spoken all trip,”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Nolyn