Malik

“Agamemnon, Calchas, and Odysseus, on the other hand, know that one doesn’t grow powerful thanks to the gods: they take matters into their own hands and fight to have their names written into eternity. It is no wonder they have survived for so long: they are cruel and cunning. Although they are very different from one another, they have something in common—they believe they are special because no one but them sees the horrible things that need to be done. They believe others shy away from the brutal nature of life but that they are clever enough to see and act upon it.”
― Costanza Casati, Clytemnestra

“What he was asking for was, effectively, a story without all the conflict. Without tension and animosity. Without many of the things I'd been taught were essential to storytelling.
This wasn't a totally new idea to me. I'd already spent 14 years writing a fantasy novel without a single sword-fight, goblin army, or looming apocalypse. I had specifically avoided having a god-lion tortured to death, or farm boys straight-up murk any tyrants or mad wizards. Nobody destroyed anything in a volcano thereby ruining magic forever and making all the elves sad enough to fuck off forever out of the world.”
― Patrick Rothfuss, The Narrow Road Between Desires

“Laughter was the true applause you offered to the world for being beautiful.”
― Patrick Rothfuss, The Narrow Road Between Desires

“I’m saying that it is hard to find a man who is really strong. Strong enough not to desire to be stronger than you.”
― Costanza Casati, Clytemnestra