Esrahaddon Quotes

“What bothered Ezra the most was that destroying the tree took less effort than reversing the river or raising a wind. This was the first true lesson he had taught himself: Creation was impossible, alteration challenging, but destruction came naturally to the world.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Esrahaddon

“What about happiness?” he had countered. “Can you have too much?” “Yes. Happiness is merely a state when everything is as it should be. But if everything is always perfect, there is no challenge, no reason to live, no purpose to exist. Happiness is the reward for struggle, and without struggle there can be no growth. What does not grow, Ezra, is dead — or should be. Still, you must guard against indulgence.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Esrahaddon

“The real problem comes in when folks try filling in the gaps with whatever’s at hand. That’s when gallimaufry happens, and the result is always walnuts.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Esrahaddon

“I will not encourage ignorance by rewarding laziness with knowledge.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Esrahaddon

“Wrong, right - these words have no meaning except in the minds of men. They are but illusions. There is only what is and what isn‘t, what has been and what will be.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Esrahaddon

“Happiness is merely a state when everything is as it should be. But if everything is always perfect, there is no challenge, no reason to live, no purpose to exist. Happiness is the reward for struggle, and without struggle there can be no growth.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Esrahaddon

“Foolish is the raindrop that believes it chooses where to land.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Esrahaddon

“What do you see before you? What else could you? I am a child who has everything. But honestly, I would trade places with just about anyone. For good or ill, I'll never know freedom, never be allowed to take a chance and experience accomplishment. Never really know my own worth, or worthlessness. You know, never being allowed to fall down steals any gratification or confidence from standing up.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Esrahaddon

“I’m not a philosopher, but I know that worth isn’t found in a sword or the skill to wield it. Worthiness comes from the heart, from courage in the face of adversity, from fighting a battle you know you can’t win with dignity.” He looked at the pressed grass where he had fallen. “Sometimes you fight and lose because you must. Doing so is right and good and worth it. I learned that from Master Rawlings, the closest thing I had to a real father.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Esrahaddon

“Esrahaddon was certain he was back there treating Elinya with a level of respect she’d never known. The daughter of Hal Haston was probably suffering a nosebleed from the height of the pedestal he was putting her on. And she deserves every inch.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Esrahaddon

“They’re evil, you know.” “Evil?” Esrahaddon said, surprised. “That’s an odd term for a Cenzar to use. I didn’t know we believed in evil. I thought we understood that people acted badly merely as a result of not knowing better.” “True,” he said. “Problem is, everyone knows better than everyone else.” Offman frowned. “Wish I knew that listening weave.” “Wouldn’t help,” Esrahaddon said. “All three of them are runed.” “Oh, right.” He scowled. “Good point.” Isilpor-Sond gave Esrahaddon a wink. “Still, if there is true evil in the world, we’re looking at it,” Offman declared. “Ignorance, hate, paranoia, and the absolute conviction that it is good and right to force others to accept their values.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Esrahaddon

“You’re young, Kendel,” Andreas said. “You haven’t witnessed what we have. The Cenzarium has long sought to take control. They don’t accept any kind of authority, except their own. They refuse to take a proper oath to the emperor — only to the empire. They don’t believe in the gods, not even in Novron. They want to abolish not only the Teshlor Guild, but the legions, leaving the empire helpless.” “How can order be maintained without soldiers?” “Oh! They say the solution to that is to educate everyone. They profess that only the unlearned commit crimes — out of ignorance — and that educated men will always do what is right. All we need to do is teach the people right from wrong, and crime will disappear!” Andreas rolled his eyes. “The truth is,” he resumed, “that they want to teach us all to read so they can use words to control everyone. Then they will invite the Fhrey back to be our overlords.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Esrahaddon

“Culture, she mused, is like a drop of ink on a wet page. It splatters and bleeds, but never far. What does spread isn’t the original black but rather some form of gray, as the native paper absorbs the ink but never fully surrenders to it. The ink despises the loss of true color, and the paper hates the change forced upon it.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Esrahaddon

“Too much will create a thirst. Quenching that thirst makes you drunk. Being drunk invites greater excess. Soon your judgment is lost, and power becomes your only desire. That’s when it happens.” “What happens?” “You change into the worst version of yourself, and eventually lose even that, until all you are is a shadow.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Esrahaddon

“Men were big, brave, strong, and they always knew what to do. Ezra was small, weak, cowardly, and ignorant of everything.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Esrahaddon