Stephen R. Donaldson Quotes

He no longer accused himself; he knew then that no one could be blamed for being inadequate in the face of such unanswerable malevolence. Destruction was easier than preservation, and when destruction had risen high enough, mere men and women could not be condemned if they failed to throw back the tide.

The answer to death was to make use of it rather than fall victim to it—master it by making it serve his goals, beliefs. This was not a good answer. But it was the only answer he had.

I have no special virtue to make me resent him. One must have strength in order to judge the weakness of others. I am not so mighty.

Dreaming is like—it’s like being a slave. Your dreams come out of all the parts of you that you don’t have any control over.

Verily, wisdom is like hunger. Perhaps it is a very fine thing—but who would willingly partake of it?

It was clear to all there gathered that power is a dreadful thing, and that knowledge of power dims the seeing of the wise.

Do not hurt where holding is enough;
do not wound where hurting is enough;
do not maim where wounding is enough;
and kill not where maiming is enough;
the greatest warrior is he who does not need to kill.

I rest and rest, but I do not become young.

If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather hear something that makes sense.

No one person has the right to withhold knowledge from another. No one is wise enough.

Then he grinned. “But it is said that hunger teaches many things. My friend, a wealth of wisdom awaits us on this journey.”

I admit the desire. But do not tempt me. Power has a way of revenging itself upon its usurpers.

We will soon know."
"Yes, indeed," Covenant muttered. "Only I hate surprises. You never know when one of them is going to ruin your life.

Are you wise, Unbeliever?"
"Who knows? If I am—wisdom is overrated.

I would say that happiness lies in serving the Land. And I would say that there is no happiness in times of war.