"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies," said Jojen. "The man who never reads lives only once."
Imagination, ReadingGeorge R. R. Martin in A Song of Ice and Fire - A Dance with DragonsCrowns do queer things to the heads beneath them.
Power, Kings, MonarchyGeorge R. R. Martin in A Song of Ice and Fire - A Clash of Kings'You know nothing, Jon Snow'
- Ygritte
When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say.
CensorshipGeorge R. R. Martin in A Song of Ice and Fire - A Clash of KingsAnd who are you, the proud lord said,
that I must bow so low?
Only a cat of a different coat,
that's all the truth I know.
In a coat of gold or a coat of red,
a lion still has claws,
And mine are long and sharp, my lord,
as long and sharp as yours.
And so he spoke, and so he spoke,
that lord of Castamere,
But now the rains weep o'er his hall,
with no one there to hear.
Yes now the rains weep o'er his hall,
and not a soul to hear.
All that Syrio Forel had taught her went racing through her head. Swift as a deer. Quiet as a shadow. Fear cuts deeper than swords. Quick as a snake. Calm as still water. Fear cuts deeper than swords. The man who fears losing has already lost. Fear cuts deeper than swords.
FearGeorge R. R. Martin in A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of ThronesThe G-Men won a couple of nail biters, including a victory over the Packers in London that was as shocking to me as it must have been to Aaron Rodgers. I had almost forgotten how good it feels to win.
New York GiantsGeorge R. R. Martin, October 2022Our supposed rivalry with Rings of Power mostly exists in the media. Nothing would please me more than to see both shows succeed. I am a fantasy fan, and I want more fantasy on television, and nothing would accomplish that more than a couple of big hits.
George R. R. Martin, October 2022My old grandmother always used to say, Summer friends will melt away like summer snows, but winter friends are friends forever.
WinterGeorge R. R. Martin in A Song of Ice and Fire - A Feast for CrowsI am much more of a gardener. My stories grow and evolve and change as I write them.
George R. R. Martin, July 2022Yes, some of the things you saw on HBO in GAME OF THRONES you will also see in THE WINDS OF WINTER (though maybe not in quite the same ways)… but much of the rest will be quite different.
George R. R. Martin, July 2022All Knights must bleed. Blood is the seal of our devotion.
KnightsGeorge R. R. Martin in A Song of Ice and Fire - A Feast for CrowsI am anticipating House of the Dragon pretty eagerly myself, for what it's worth. Okay, I am hardly objective. And I know a lot of what you will be seeing. I, um, wrote the book.
George R. R. Martin, December 2021They can keep their heaven. When I die, I'd sooner go to Middle-earth.
George R. R. MartinThe best fantasy is written in the language of dreams.
George R. R. MartinDreams were a treacherous ground on which to build.
George R. R. Martin in Tales of Dunk and Egg - A Knight of the Seven KingdomsPain was as much a part of knighthood as were swords and shields.
KnightsGeorge R. R. Martin in Tales of Dunk and Egg - A Knight of the Seven KingdomsI am going to clout you in the ear so hard your head will turn around backwards, and you'll spend the rest of your life looking at where you've been.
George R. R. Martin in Tales of Dunk and EggA hedge knight must hold tight to his pride. Without it, he was no more than a sellsword.
George R. R. Martin in Tales of Dunk and Egg - The Hedge KnightBetter a beggar than a thief.
George R. R. Martin in Tales of Dunk and Egg - A Knight of the Seven KingdomsAll men are fools, and all men are knights, where women are concerned.
George R. R. Martin in Tales of Dunk and Egg - A Knight of the Seven KingdomsEgg has the truth of it. Aerion's quite the monster. He thinks he's a dragon in human form, you know. That's why he was so wroth at that puppet show. A pity he wasn't born a Fossoway, then he'd think himself an apple and we'd all be a deal safer, but there you are.
George R. R. Martin in Tales of Dunk and EggWhy give a horse to a man who cannot ride?
George R. R. Martin in Tales of Dunk and Egg - A Knight of the Seven KingdomsA Hedge Knight is the truest kind of knight, Dunk. Other Knights serve the Lords who keep them, or from whom they hold their lands, but we serve where we will, for men whose causes we believe in. Every Knight swears to protect the weak, but we keep the vow the best, I think.
George R. R. Martin in Tales of Dunk and Egg - The Hedge Knight"A great battle is a terrible thing," the old knight said, "but in the midst of blood and carnage, there is sometimes also beauty, beauty that could break your heart."
George R. R. Martin in Tales of Dunk and Egg - A Knight of the Seven KingdomsHard things only grow harder if you put them off.
George R. R. Martin in Tales of Dunk and Egg - A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms"Outwitted by a boy of ten." Dunk looked at Egg and silently mouthed the words "clout in the ear". The boy grinned.
George R. R. Martin in Tales of Dunk and EggIs that gallantry I smell, or just stupidity? The two scents are much alike, as I recall.
George R. R. Martin in Tales of Dunk and Egg - A Knight of the Seven KingdomsDunk the lunk, thick as a castle wall.
George R. R. Martin in Tales of Dunk and Egg - The Hedge KnightMy brothers have my measure when it comes to fighting and dancing and thinking and reading books, but none of them is half my equal at lying insensible in the mud.
George R. R. Martin in Tales of Dunk and EggOak and iron, guard me well, or else I'm dead, and doomed to hell.
IronGeorge R. R. Martin in Tales of Dunk and Egg - A Knight of the Seven KingdomsThe summers have been shorter since the last dragon died, and the winters longer and crueler.
George R. R. Martin in Tales of Dunk and Egg - A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms