"You can never tell when princes will get squinty on you. You can never tell when they might suddenly feel their blood and go all royal."

Tad Williams Literature See all quotes by Tad Williams →

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“It was easy to hate if he did not think, Simon discovered.”

“I gave up the love of learning for the love of oblivion—the two cannot live together.”

“If you have not noticed, we are preparing for war. I’m sorry if that inconveniences you.”

““Now, boy, now...” he said bewilderedly, “what is all this talk of glory? Have you caught the sickness, too? Curse me for a blind beggar, I should have seen. This fever has cankered even your simple heart, hasn’t it, Simon? I’m sorry. It takes a strong will or practiced eye to see through the glitter to the rotten core.”

“Tiamak closed his eyes to make a short prayer of thanks, hoping that the gods, like children, could be confirmed in good behavior by praise.”

“Ambitious men never believe others aren’t the same.”

Resonant Thoughts

"“Ahmud Shah, without waiting to besiege the Hindoo capital, overran the open country; and wherever he went put to death men, women, and children, without mercy, contrary to the compact made between hi…"

— Firishta

1570–1611

#family

"Paint never seems to behave the same. Even the same paint doesn't, you know. In other words, if you use the same white or black or red, through the use of it, it never seems to be the same. It doesn't…"

— Franz Kline

Music1910–1962

#knowledge

"After it is all over, as stupid a fellow as I am can see that mistakes were made. I notice, however, that my mistakes are never told me until it is too late, and you, and all my officers, know that I …"

— Robert E. Lee

Military1807–1870

#knowledge

"The Raja of Malwa had 5,000 cavalry and 200,000 infantry and would have been defeated only after great slaughter. The inhabitants of Kaithal were given such severe punishment that "they might not forg…"

— K. S. Lal

history1920–2002

#family