Top 15 Stephen R. Donaldson Quotes

He smiled because he was alive.

I'll tell you what it is. It's a goddam miracle, that's what it is."
"Come, now," the older man murmured. "I don't believe in miracles—neither do you.

Do not be too quick to judge the makers of worlds. Will you ever write a story for which no character will have caused to reproach you?

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.

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.

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

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

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

Retribution—ah, my friend, retribution is the sweetest of all sweet dark dreams.

Are you so ashamed of what you were?"
Bannon cocked a white eyebrow at the question, as if it came close to the truth. "I am not shamed," he said distinctly. "But I am saddened that so many centuries were required to teach us the limits of our worth. We went too far, in pride and folly. Mortal men should not give up wives and sleep and death for any service—less the face of failure become too abhorrent to be endured.

The bluff stone of the tower, with Revelstone rising behind it like the prow of a great ship, answered his gaze in granite permanence as if it were a prophecy by the old Giants—a cryptic perception that victory and defeat were human terms which had no meaning in the language of mountains.

Then why do you delay? Why do you fear?"
Because I am mortal, weak. The way is only clear—not sure. In my time, I have been a seer and oracle. Now I—I desire a sign. I require to see.

You did not cause his despair. Had you treated him with distrust, you would have achieved nothing but the confirmation of his distress. Distrust—vindicates itself.

The task was impossible, and mortal human beings accomplished nothing but their own destruction when they attempted the impossible.

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