Home > Work > The Curse of Chalion (World of the Five Gods, #1)
1 " I need words that mean more than they mean, words not just with height and width, but depth and weight and, and other dimensions that I cannot even name. "
― Lois McMaster Bujold , The Curse of Chalion (World of the Five Gods, #1)
2 " In mysticism, knowledge cannot be separated from a certain way of life which becomes its living manifestation. To acquire mystical knowledge means to undergo a transformation; one could even say that the knowledge is the transformation. Scientific knowledge, on the other hand, can often stay abstract and theoretical. Thus most of today’s physicists do not seem to realize the philosophical, cultural and spiritual implications of their theories. "
3 " Events may be horrible or inescapable. Men have always a choice - if not whether, then how, they may endure. "
4 " The gods' most savage curses come upon us as answers to our own prayers. Prayer is a dangerous business. "
5 " This wasn't prayer anyway, it was just argument with the gods.Prayer, he suspected as he hoisted himself up and turned for the door, was putting one foot in front of the other. Moving all the same. "
6 " Well, it is a particular sin to permit grief for what is gone to poison the praise for what blessings remain to us. "
7 " The world demands I make good choices on no information, and then blames my maidenhood for my mistakes, as if my maidenhood were responsible for my ignorance. Ignorance is not stupidity, but it might as well be. And I do not like feeling stupid. "
8 " It wasn't a case of storming heaven. It was a case of letting heaven storm you. "
9 " But personally, I think [sainthood] is not so much the growth of virtue, as simply the replacement of prior vices with an addiction to one's god. "
10 " Take heart, sir," Cazaril consoled him. "It is not your destiny today to win a royacy for your son. It is to win an empire for your grandson. "
11 " I don’t duel, boy. I kill as a soldier kills, which is as a butcher kills, as quickly, efficiently, and with as least risk to myself as I can arrange. "
12 " We slaves, we lords, we fools, we men and women, we mortals, we toys of the gods—all the same thing, Palli. They are all the same to me now. "
13 " This is a true prophecy, as true as yours ever were. When the souls rise up in glory, yours shall not be shunned nor sundered, but shall be the prize of the gods' gardens. Even your darkness shall be treasured then, and all your pain made holy. "
14 " Ignorance is not stupidity, but it might as well be. And I do not like feeling stupid. "
15 " Any man can be kind when he is comfortable. I'd always thought kindness a trivial virtue, therefore. But when we were hungry, thirsty, sick, frightened, with our deaths shouting at us, in the heart of horror, you were still as unfailingly courteous as a gentleman at ease before his own hearth. "
16 " Well, what is a blessing but a curse from another point of view? "
17 " I'd storm heaven for you, if I knew where it was. "
18 " When the souls rise up in glory, yours shall not be shunned nor sunderered, but shall be the prize of the gods' gardens. Even your darkness shall be treasured then, and all your pain made holy. "
19 " Any man can be kind when he is comfortable. I'd always thought kindness a trivial virtue therefore. But when we were hungry, thirsty, sick, frightened, with our deaths shouting at us, in the heart of horror, you were still as unfailingly courteous as a gentleman at his ease before his own hearth.' 'Events may be horrible or inescapable. Men have always a choice - if not whether, then how they may endure.' -Bergon and Cazaril talking over the past "
20 " So you’re saying that I could die at any moment!” “Yes. And this is different from your life yesterday in what way? "
