Paolini Quotes

A weapon is a tool, and if it is beautiful, then it is beautiful because it is useful. A sword that could not fulfill its function would be ugly to my eyes no matter how fair its shape, not even if it were adorned with the finest jewels and the most intricate engraving. ~ Christopher Paolini

Anger has its place, but it will not serve you here, the way of the warrior is the way of knowing. Of that knowledge requires you to use anger, then you use anger, but you cannot wrest forth knowledge by losing your temper. ~ Christopher Paolini

It's better to ask forgiveness than permission.
- Brom ~ Christopher Paolini

Magic is the art of thinking, not strength or language. ~ Christopher Paolini

The sea is emotion incarnate. It loves, hates, and weeps. It defies all attempts to capture it with words and rejects all shackles. No matter what you say about it, there is always that which you can't. ~ Christopher Paolini

These books are my friends, my companions. ~ Christopher Paolini

Applied properly, it [logic] can overcome any lack of wisdom, which one only gains through age and experience. ~ Christopher Paolini

Fight if you wish. Deny what is before you if it comforts you. But nothing you do can change your fate. ~ Christopher Paolini

We are no longer awkward younglings. Our enemies may be fearsome, but so are we. It is time we remind them of that. ~ Christopher Paolini

Mmm ... she's doomed! You're doomed!! They're all doomed! Notice I didn't specify what kind of doom, so no matter what happens, I predicted it. How very WISE of me. ~ Christopher Paolini

Why does everything have to be so hard? [Eragon] wondered.
Because, said Saphira, everyone wants to eat, but no one wants to be eaten. ~ Christopher Paolini

Several hundred feet ahead, Saphira and Thorn tussled, two giants in the night. ~ Christopher Paolini

What have you done?' he said, his voice hollow and strained. He stepped back and put his fists to his temples. 'What have you done!'
With an effort, Eragon said, 'Made you understand. ~ Christopher Paolini

fate has a cruel sense of humor ~ Christopher Paolini

Do not become so attached to any one belief than you cannot see past it to another possibility. ~ Christopher Paolini

The way of the warrior is the way of knowing. If that knowledge requires you to use anger, then you use anger, but you cannot wrest forth knowledge by losing your temper. Pain and frustration will be your only reward if you try. ~ Christopher Paolini

Always it is thus with my new students, and especially with the human ones; the mind is the last muscle they train or use, and the one that they regard the least. Ask them about swordplay and they can list every blow from a duel a month old, but ask them to solve a problem or make a coherent statement and ... well, I would be lucky to get more than a blank stare in return. ~ Christopher Paolini

His knees grew weak, and he sat on Saphira's right paw. She lowered her head and nuzzled his shoulder, and he leaned his head against her.
We did it, she said in a quiet tone.
We did it, he said, hardly able to believe the words. ~ Christopher Paolini

It is easy to be calm when there is nothing to worry about, Eragon. The true test of your self-control, however, is whether you can remain calm in a trying situation. You cannot allow anger or frustration to cloud your thoughts, not at the moment. Right now, you need your mind to be clear.
Have you always been able to remain calm at times like this?
The old dragon seemed to chuckle. No. I used to growl and bite and knock down trees and tear up the ground. Once, I broke the top off of a mountain in the Spine; the other dragons were rather upset with me for that. But I have had many years to learn that losing my temper rarely helps. You have not, I know, but allow my experience to guide you in this. Let go of your worries and focus on the task at hand. The future will be what is will, and fretting about it will only make your fears more likely to come true.
I know, Eragon sighed, but it's not easy.
Of course not. Few things of worth are. Then Glaedr withdrew and left him to the silence of his own mind. ~ Christopher Paolini

What is possible is subjective. It's a matter of perspective. ~ Christopher Paolini

I don't discuss my own beliefs in public, but I will say the beliefs I've given my characters do not necessarily represent what I myself believe. ~ Christopher Paolini

Understanding breeds empathy. ~ Christopher Paolini

Why?' - Nasuada
'You know why' - Murtagh ~ Christopher Paolini

A negative outlook is more of a handicap than any physical injury. ~ Christopher Paolini

It's life's natural course. All will be fine; time will settle everything. ~ Christopher Paolini

They may fight with us, but they don't fight for us. ~ Christopher Paolini

The silver-haired elf woman Yaela had knelt by the side of the grave, taken an acorn from the pouch on her belt, and planted it directly above Wyrden's chest. And then the twelve elves, Arya included, sang to the acorn, which took root and sprouted and grew twining upward, reaching and grasping toward the sky like a clutch of hands. When the elves had finished, the leafy oak stood twenty feet high, with long strings of green flowers at the end of every branch. Eragon had thought it was the nicest burial he had ever attended. ~ Christopher Paolini

We will carry your message. May your swords stay sharp," said Brom.
"And yours. ~ Christopher Paolini

A good compromise leaves everyone angry. ~ Christopher Paolini

Leave the dead to the Earth. They are not for us. ~ Christopher Paolini

Regardless of whether I can shift my affections to another - and the heart, as you observed, is a notoriously fickle beast - the question remains: should I? ~ Christopher Paolini

Understanding begets empathy and compassion even for the meanest beggar - Oromis ~ Christopher Paolini

The songs of the dead are the lamentations of the living. ~ Christopher Paolini

It's a difficult question and not one you can answer until you're faced with it. Keep in mind that many people have died for their beliefs; it's actually quite common. The real courage is in living and suffering for what you believe. -Brom ~ Christopher Paolini

They have not the heart for this battle. So think of your families, think of your homes, and remember it is they you are fighting for. ~ Christopher Paolini

He'd lost all fear of Death's embrace,
The last embrace a man will know. ~ Christopher Paolini

Because you can't argue with all the fools in the world. It's easier to let them have their way, then trick them when they're not paying attention. ~ Christopher Paolini

If a dragon has already transferred their consciousness to their heart of hearts, then they will die a true death. ~ Christopher Paolini

Arya.' He looked down the silvery river and then back at Arya, and he gripped the hilt of Brisingr. He was so full of emotion, he trembled. He did not want to leave, but he knew he must. 'Stay with me-'
Her gaze darted up. 'I cannot.'
' ... stay with me until the first curve in the river.'
She hesitated, then nodded. ~ Christopher Paolini

Give men your ear, but not your heart. Show respect for those in power, but don't follow them blindly. Judge with logic and reason, but comment not. ~ Christopher Paolini

A faint tickling on the back of his right hand caused Eragon to look down. A huge, wingless cricket clung to his glove. The insect was hideous: black and bulbous, with barbed legs and a massive skull-like head. Its carapace gleamed like oil. ~ Christopher Paolini

In the beginning, there were dragons; proud, fience,and independent. Their scale were like gems and all who gazed upon them despaired, for their beauty was great and terrible..! ~ Christopher Paolini

You named your sword Fire? Fire? What kind of a boring name is that? You might as well name your sword 'Blazing Blade' and be done with it. Fire indeed. Humph. Wouldn't you rather have a sword called Sheepbiter or Chrysanthemum Cleaver or something else with imagination? ~ Christopher Paolini

Keep in mind, Eragon, that no one thinks himself a villain, and few make decisions they think are wrong. A person may dislike his choice, but he will stand by it because, even in the worst circumstances, he believes that it was the best option available to him at the time. ~ Christopher Paolini

In my writing, I strive for a lyrical beauty somewhere between Tolkien at his best and Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf ~ Christopher Paolini

He is a man who kicks at cats, said Solembum, as if that summed up Tenga's entire character. ~ Christopher Paolini

Come, kiss me sweet, and then let us return to bed, for I am tired, and I would sleep. ~ Christopher Paolini

To know who you are without any delusions or sympathy is a moment of revelation that no one experiences unscathed ~ Christopher Paolini

I own a book,' he thought, delighted (Paolini 291). ~ Christopher Paolini

Life is both pain and pleasure. ~ Christopher Paolini

As he gazed at the sun-darkened warriors, battle-worn before him, he decided that he would rather fight a hundred enemies than have to stand up in public and risk the disapproval of others. ~ Christopher Paolini

He's visitin' an old friend," supplied Eragon, dropping his voice into a thick accent. "I'm along t' make sure he don't get lost, if y' get m'meaning. He ain't as young as he used to be - had a bit too much sun when he was young'r. Touch o' the brain fever, y' know." Brom bobbed his head pleasantly. "Right. Go on through," said the guard, waving his hand and dropping the pike. "Just make sure he doesn't cause any trouble." "Oh, he won't," promised Eragon. He urged Cadoc forward, and they rode into Teirm. The cobblestone street clacked under the horses' hooves. Once they were away from the guards, Brom sat up and growled, "Touch of brain fever, eh?" "I couldn't let you have all the fun," teased Eragon. Brom harrumphed and looked away. ~ Christopher Paolini

How terrible," said Eragon, "to die alone, separate even from the one who is closest to you."
Everyone dies alone, Eragon. Whether you are a king on a battlefield or a lowly peasant lying in bed among your family, no one can accompany you into the void. ~ Christopher Paolini

mushroom pie stuffed with spinach, thyme, and currants. ~ Christopher Paolini

Things that change and are lost, that is what's worth preserving. ~ Christopher Paolini

It never struck me as interesting that I didn't go to school - we had our own little world. I always thought of kids who were going to regular school as if they're the others, the separate ones. ~ Christopher Paolini

Power without moral direction is the most dangerous force in the world. ~ Christopher Paolini

They enveloped each other within the folds of their thoughts, holding each other with an intimacy no physical embrace could replicate, allowing their identities to merge once again. Their greatest comfort was a simple one: they were no longer alone. To know that you were with the one who cared for you, and who understood every fiber of your being, and who would not abandon you even in the most desperate of circumstances, that was the most precious relationship a person could have, and they both cherished it. ~ Christopher Paolini

Ajihad: You are an enigma, Eragon, a quandary that no one knows how to solve. ~ Christopher Paolini

Though they live far from the coast, they retain a great fascination and passion for the ocean. The sound of crashing waves, the smell of salt air, it affects them deeply and has inspired many of their lovliest songs. There is one that tells of this love, if you want to hear it. ~ Christopher Paolini

Those whom we love are often the most alien to us. ~ Christopher Paolini

Adrift upon the sea of time, the lonely god wanders from shore to distant shore, upholding the laws of the stars above. ~ Christopher Paolini

Love can be a terrible curse, Eragon. It can make you overlook even the largest flaws in a person's behavior. ~ Christopher Paolini

Casting back her head, Arya gazed up at the twinkling sky, her long neck gold with firelight, her face pale with the radiance of the heavenx. "Do you ask out of friendly concern or your own self-interest?" She gave an abrupt, choked laugh, the sound of water falling over cold rocks. "Never mind. The night air has addled me. It has undone my sense of courtesy and left me free to say the most spiteful things that occur to me."
"No matter."
"It does matter, because I regret it, and I shall not tolerate it. Did I love Faolin? How would you define love? For over twenty years, we traveled together, the only immortals to walk among the short-lived races. We were companions ... and friends. ~ Christopher Paolini

Unlike the majority of people, he did not hate or fear the wilderness; as harsh as the empty lands were, they possessed a grace and a beauty that no artifice could compete with and that he found restorative. ~ Christopher Paolini

We are about to change history, said Saphira.
We're throwing ourselves off a cliff without knowing how deep the water below is.
Ah, but what a glorious flight!
(Eragon to Saphira) ~ Christopher Paolini

It's impossible to go through life unscathed. Nor should you want to. By the hurts we accumulate, we measure both our follies and our accomplishments. ~ Christopher Paolini

For he who has the audacity to determine who should live and who should die no longer serves the law but dictates the law. ~ Christopher Paolini

You cannot learn what you are made of if you rely on anyone or anything else to help you. ~ Christopher Paolini

When the time comes and you need a weapon, look under the roots of the Menoa tree. Then, when all seems lost and your power is insufficient, go to the Rock of Kuthian and speak your name to open the Vault of Souls. ~ Christopher Paolini

I am not who I was,' he whispered, gripping the edges of the column, 'but I know who I am.' ...
'And I won't give up. ~ Christopher Paolini

HERE LIES BROM
Who was a Dragon Rider
And like a father
To me.
May his name live on in glory. ~ Christopher Paolini

Find peace in where and what you are. ~ Christopher Paolini

Better to see widely than to see too closely and allow some feature of place or situation to catch you unawares. Do you understand? ~ Christopher Paolini

You can't argue with all the fools in the world. It's better to let them have their way, then trick them when they're not paying attention. - Brom ~ Christopher Paolini

I didn't think I would ever meet a noble who wasn't corrupt. Now that I have, I find that I prefer them when they're greedy bastards. (Brom to Eragon) ~ Christopher Paolini

He who stands like a pilar dies in battle. He who bends like a reed is triumphant! ~ Christopher Paolini

After a pause, he asked, 'What do you think of Nasuada's plans?'
'Mmm ... she's doomed! You're doomed! They're all doomed!'She cackled, doubling over, then straightened abruptly. 'notice I didn't specify what kind of doom, so no matter what happens, I predicted it. How very wise of me.' She lifted the basket again, setting it on one hip. 'I supposed I won't see you for a while, so farewell, best of luck, avoid roasted cabbage, don't eat earwax, and look on the bright side of life!' And with a cheery wink, she strolled off, leaving Eragon blinking and nonplussed. ~ Christopher Paolini

Of the affairs of love ... my only advice is to be honest. That's your most powerful tool to unlock a heart or gain forgiveness. ~ Christopher Paolini

Eragon went to see the dragon for the first time since it had spoken to him. He approached apprehensively, aware now that it was an equal.
"Eragon."
"Is that all you can say?" he snapped.
"Yes."
His eyes widened at the unexpected reply, and he sat down roughly.
Now it has a sense of humor. What next? ~ Christopher Paolini

I've stood outside my house in Montana looking at the northern lights ... crackling against the night sky. To me, that's magic. ~ Christopher Paolini

Strive for wisdom! Or at least a decrease in idiocy. ~ Christopher Paolini

Without fear there cannot be courage. ~ Christopher Paolini

Finding one's place in the world is never easy.
Have courage and be true to who you are.
Remember, those who dare to be different are
Often the ones who change the world. ~ Christopher Paolini

The greatest enemy is one that has nothing to lose. ~ Christopher Paolini

From the corner of his eye, Eragon saw Orik hewing Urgal necks with mighty blows of his ax. ~ Christopher Paolini

Do not pamper me, human. Elves train both their men and women to fight. I am not one of your helpless females to run away whenever there is danger. ~ Christopher Paolini

My heart died a while back. [Eragon] ~ Christopher Paolini

Engaged in a fiery dance, their bodies were linked and seperated by the flashing blades. At times they nearly touched, taut skin only a hair's breadth away, but then momentum would whirl them apart, and they would withdraw for a second, only to join again. Their sinuous forms wove together like twisting ropes of windblown smoke. ~ Christopher Paolini

They asked him for help rebuilding the farm, but e only shook his head with a pang of longing in his heart.
I'm tracking your killers,he whispered to his uncle.-Eragon ~ Christopher Paolini

I'm not the person I once was. I have Thorn now, and ... I'm not fighting for myself anymore ... It makes a difference ... I used to think you were a fool to keep risking your life as you have ... I know better now. I understand ... why. I understand ... ' His [Murtagh] eyes widened and his grimace relaxed, as if his pain was forgotten, and an inner light seemed to illuminate his features. 'I understand-we understand. ~ Christopher Paolini

And the ship sailed onward, gliding serenely down the moonlit river toward the dark lands beyond. ~ Christopher Paolini

He inclined his head ever so slightly, displaying with his bearing the supreme confidence, even arrogance, that is the sole providence of cats, dragons, and certain highborn women. ~ Christopher Paolini

You shouldn't let him hit you so much" observed saphira
"Yes I realize that'" he growled.
"Do you want me to knock him over for you?"
"No ... not today. ~ Christopher Paolini

Never ask an elf for help; they might decide your better off dead, eh? (Orik) (Eldest) (Page 207) ~ Christopher Paolini

Death is part of who we are. It guides
us. It shapes us. It drives us to madness. Can you still be human if you have no mortal end ~ Christopher Paolini

The name, his true name, was weaker and more flawed than he would have liked, and he hated himself for that, but there was also much to admire within it, and the more he thought about it, the more he was able to accept the true nature of his self. He was not the best person in the world, but neither was he the worst. ~ Christopher Paolini

When he asked Saphira about it, she said, It matters little to me, Eragon. Dragons have never believed in higher powers. Why should we when deer and other prey consider us to be a higher power? He laughed at that. Only do not ignore reality in order to comfort yourself, for once you do, you make it easy for others to deceive you. ~ Christopher Paolini

I am not who I was, but I know who I am. ~ Christopher Paolini

besides, how can you cheat a cheater? ~ Christopher Paolini