The Blackest Heart Quotes

“Love of god is not always equal to the love of good.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“In time, war takes upon itself a rousing and romantic shape, a pleasing nostalgia bathed in naught but beautiful glory. In time, all things sanctioned of the gods become righteous.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“There is a pleasant equality in death, for the king is as dead as the foot soldier or slave.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“For anything can be accomplished, if you but set your mind to it and persevere.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“I stole the life from two innocent children. And their lives have been naught but loneliness and hardship ever since. For seventeen years they have been living a lie.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“Trust is fleeting, while betrayal is timeless.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“The man who is constantly present will never be as perfect as the one who is away, the one who is gone.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“Can a man truly be a hero one day, nothing the next?”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“A slain enemy is a peaceful enemy, and the world oft cries for peace.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“You give the gods too much credit.” “I humbly give Laijon all credit.” Gault spoke softly, succinctly. “Then I will make this as simple as I can, cousin, so we can both be assured whose side the gods are on. You say you’ve killed several dozen men? Well, I have seen ten years of war. Killed thousands in the name of the gods. I spit on both Laijon and his son Raijael.” Gault spat on the sand-covered platform between them, his voice rising. “And I would fuck your precious Mother Mia in the ass.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“What makes you more special than I?” “I am one of the Brethren of Mia.” Squireck held his head high. “I have the truth.” “The truth?” Gault scoffed. “Laijon has already shown me his mercy and favor, in this very arena.” “Or perhaps you were merely better than the other fighters,” Gault said, a droll lilt in his tone. “However few there were.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“Can you regrow Lawri’s arm?” His eyes softened. “Not even a million faithful prayers to Laijon could regrow Lawri’s arm. In that regard, the gods of each of the Five Isles are useless. As am I.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“They know it is all false. Their beliefs. The fanciful tales and fables and miracles of the past written down in ancient texts. They know deep down it is all nonsense. Yet still they believe. And the cycle of madness and delusion will never cease. It just doesn’t matter. Destroy all scripture? I think not. Everything can be redone. Everything is endless. The disfunction and folly will go on until mankind . . . until mankind is no more.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“Yesterday’s beliefs and legends and prophecies should not be revered nor sought after. Yesterday’s wars should not matter today. Yesterday’s heroes should be forgotten and not worshipped. Why follow the beliefs of our grandfathers? Because they followed the beliefs of theirs. Who is to say they were ever right?”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“To most humans, it seems religious ideologies are easier to fight and die for than even friends and family. . . .”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“Legend and prophecy are so common as to be cheap. They all cause division, confusion, hatred. They all talk of war and glory and conquest and revenge in the name of Laijon, in the name of the Five Warrior Angels. ‘Warrior’ is even in their celebrated name. You’re right, Nail, it is messy. It is madness. The Way and Truth of Laijon is full of naught but contradictions. At the time of Fiery Absolution, The Way and Truth of Laijon clearly states that those of the Church of Laijon must fight to stave off invasion, but at the same time, according to the same book, the White Prince must reach Amadon to fulfill Fiery Absolution. Two opposing commands. And in the end, many will die so that Fiery Absolution may take place at the appointed time in the appointed place, and the lands of Gul Kana will be destroyed to the point that it will be in no more need of saving than Wyn Darrè or Adin Wyte.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“It is sad, always belonging to people.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“It is what we do with our own selves that defines us. Not where we came from. Or who gave us birth.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“Twas merely the power of suggestion made you think that ax was magic. I doubt you felt or saw a thing. Or if you did, it could be easily explained as something else.” “Like what?” “Mere coincidence.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“The power of suggestion can make one see things where there may not be anything to see.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“Strip faith from the most faithful, belief from the heartiest believer, and what are you left with? The angriest and most dangerous of enemies.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“Is the nobleman truly brave? The first rule of soldiering is fortitude under hardship and fatigue. Courage is a distant second. Poverty and want are the best school for a brave soldier.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“She saw herself—riding atop a magnificent white stallion underneath a large burning tree. She was a glorious silver-eyed knight with a glowing white shield, horned helm, and a curious bone-hilted white sword, the cross-hilt curved and graceful, in the shape of a crescent moon. A blond girl was perched on the saddle before her; the girl’s hand was a metal claw . . . bright red blood pumping through veins in the scaled metal. And the girl had green glowing eyes! “All the weapons and stones will be gathered in Savon,” the girl whispered.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“The Way and Truth of Laijon is eleven books as scribed: the Early Books of Prophecy, Book of the Great Hunts, Book of the Slave, Book of the Cross, Book of the Beasts, Book of the Atonement Tree, Ember Lighting Song of the Third Warrior Angel, Acts of the Second Warrior Angel, Revelations of the Fourth Warrior Angel, Song of the Stones, and the Soulless Lament. Other than these, there shall be no other gospels forever and ever, amen.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“Otto turned back to her. “I don’t like to be hastened. It’s my one deficiency.” “You seem the type who’s deficient in a lot of things.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“Gault held no illusions about the fact that one human could inflict pain and torment onto another with staggering precision and even joy.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“The best assassin is everyone’s friend,”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“Never let a fight last more than a few strokes of a blade. Never let a man who outweighs you get a firm hold on any part of your body.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“Ready, my love—my nameless love?” “I am not your love.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart

“Death is the father of terror.”
― Brian Lee Durfee, The Blackest Heart