Brandon Sanderson Quotes & Sayings

If you took half the energy you devote to being witty and channeled it into your work, I daresay you could be one of the greatest scholars of our age. — Brandon Sanderson

Humans don't make sense."
"If you're only now learning that," Kaladin said, "then you haven't been paying attention. — Brandon Sanderson

A man's emotions are what define him, and control is the hallmark of true strength. — Brandon Sanderson

Yes, from now on, Adolin would lead the battles. Dalinar would change the world. — Brandon Sanderson

All of those stories are just tales told by people who lived lives before ours. What they say about humankind is true. — Brandon Sanderson

Did I hear your correctly, my dear?" Ahan asked with a shaky voice. "You're going to go into Elantris?"
"Yes." Sarene said.
"I need something to drink," Ahan decided, unstoppering his wine flask. — Brandon Sanderson

The cosmere, unfortunately, takes precedence over free food. Watch yourself, Dalinar. Life becomes dangerous, and you're at the center of it. — Brandon Sanderson

Respect the people you lie to, Tao had taught her. Steal from them long enough, and you will begin to understand them. — Brandon Sanderson

So, uh," I said, shuffling from one foot to the other, "want to go with me to check up on Obliteration? If you're not doing anything else important, I mean."
She cocked her head. "Did you just invite me on a date ... to spy on a deadly Epic planning to destroy the city?"
"Well, I don't have a lot of experience with dating, but I've always heard you're supposed to pick something you know the girl will enjoy ... "
She smiled. "Well, let's get to it then. — Brandon Sanderson

Battle was a masculine art. A woman wanting to come to the battlefield was like ... well, like a man wanting to read. Unnatural. — Brandon Sanderson

They looked so dangerous, like alligators. Really fast alligators wearing black. Ninja alligators. I decided not to use that one on Megan. — Brandon Sanderson

The most dangerous kind of man is not the one who spent his youth shoving others around. That kind of man gets lazy, and is often too content with his life to be truly dangerous. The man who spent his youth being shoved around, however ... When that man gets a little power and authority, he often uses it to become a tyrant on par with the worst warlords in history. — Brandon Sanderson

Afraid so. But you can't go someplace a second time until you been there a first time, I reckon. Everyone has to stand out sometime, — Brandon Sanderson

I don't know what to say," Joel said. "I figure that if you are there, you'll be angry if I claim to believe when I don't. The truth is, I'm not sure I don't believe, either. You might be there. I hope you are, I guess. — Brandon Sanderson

those who led were the lowest of men, for they were required to serve everyone. — Brandon Sanderson

he remembered them, speaking his sentences — Brandon Sanderson

It's ironic, in a way. I've spent a lifetime controlling the emotions of others. Now I'm so afraid, I can't even function. — Brandon Sanderson

YOU SHOULD KILL THEM. Vin looked up as she heard a pair of guards pass the door to her cell. There was one good thing about Ruin's voice - it tended to warn her when people were nearby, even if it did always tell her to kill them. — Brandon Sanderson

Impossible things are really rough to do, you know. — Brandon Sanderson

I hate them," Sebarial said. "But I try to hate everyone. That way, I don't risk leaving out anyone who is particularly deserving. — Brandon Sanderson

This is insanity!"
"No, this is scholarship! — Brandon Sanderson

Brandon: How does the character fit into the story, how will people expect them to fit into the story, and how, therefore, can I make them incongruous for those expectations? I'm looking for incongruity. Ask yourself why this character cannot fill the role in the plot that they are expected to fulfill. Ask yourself who would be perfect for this role. I'm not going to use that person. — Brandon Sanderson

I'm a thief, not a prophet. Sometimes, we just have to be what the job requires. — Brandon Sanderson

Maybe I'll remove dying from my list of tasks to do this week. — Brandon Sanderson

Looking back on her recent life, she felt frustrated at her frequent helplessness. And that felt like part of whom she really was. The woman who would do anything to be sure she wasn't helpless. That was why she'd studied so hard with the tutors in Idris. That was also why she wanted to learn how to Awaken. She — Brandon Sanderson

Hmmm. Someone has a high opinion of himself. Comes with being royalty, I suppose. Like funny hats and a fondness for beheadings. — Brandon Sanderson

This is it, kids. Time for the real party. — Brandon Sanderson

Let your actions defend you, not your words. — Brandon Sanderson

She didn't know if she was speaking to Grandmother or the God Beyond. So often, they were the same in her mind. Had she ever realized that before? — Brandon Sanderson

No, not me.I'm not a good person or a bad person.I'm just here to kill things. — Brandon Sanderson

- in case Wayne failed." "Which never happens." Wayne grinned and took a bite of his apple, hopping off his steps to walk beside Waxillium. "Except that one time. And that other one time. But those don't matter, onnacount of my getting hit to the head enough times that I can't remember them. — Brandon Sanderson

How can she believe?" Vivenna said. Denth shrugged. "Seems like a good enough religion to me. I mean, you can go and see her gods. Talk to them, watch them shine. It isn't all that tough to understand. — Brandon Sanderson

The immortal demigod took a throaty slurp of her beer, then slammed the mug down onto the table, grinning like a four-year-old who had been paid in cookies to rat out her sister. — Brandon Sanderson

But since then you've acted like I was a gorilla at your buffet."
"A ... what?"
"Gorilla at your buffet. You know ... eating all your food? Making you annoyed? That kind of thing? — Brandon Sanderson

Never let your life depend on the competence of someone whose life isn't also on the line. — Brandon Sanderson

Small things were important. Secods were small things, and if you heaped enough of those on top of one another, they became a man's life. — Brandon Sanderson

Enforcement had done its best to kill me on several occasions. You didn't just get over something like that. In fact, they had killed Megan. She'd recovered. Mostly. — Brandon Sanderson

Which was more important? Stability or the ability to watch over the others? Blood of my fathers, he thought. I wasn't made for this politicking and scheming. I was made to wield a sword and ride down enemies . — Brandon Sanderson

Ruin still used Reen's voice - it was familiar, something that had always seemed a part of her. Discovering that it belonged to that thing ... it was like finding out that her reflection really belonged to someone else, and that she'd never actually seen herself. — Brandon Sanderson

They didn't speak as the sun slowly sank before them. Why was it most colorful when it was about to vanish for the night? Was it angry at being forced belong the horizon? Or was it a showman, giving a performance before retiring? — Brandon Sanderson

A man can force himself to hate if he wishes, especially if he convinces himself that it is for a higher good." "The oppression of the few brings salvation to the many?" Omin asked, a slight smile on his face, as if he found the concept ridiculous. "You'd best not mock, Arelene," Hrathen warned. "You have few options, and we both know the least painful one will require — Brandon Sanderson

A man found himself when he was alone. You only had one person to chat with, one person to blame. — Brandon Sanderson

Why do they call it research if I've only done it this one time? — Brandon Sanderson

A tyrant needs no real reason for what he does, Quellion said. He was a young man, but not foolish. At times, he sounded like other men Spook had known. Wise men. The difference, then, was one of extremity. Or, perhaps, timing? — Brandon Sanderson

And don't you give me that innocent look. These are the Forests. Everybody here has done something, now and then, that you don't want others to know about ... — Brandon Sanderson

Well, best to remain vigilant. It's when everything is calm that you need to be most alert. — Brandon Sanderson

Authority doesn't come from a rank.," Kaladin said, fingering the spheres in his pocket.
"Where does it come from?"
"From the men who give it to you. That's the only way to get it. — Brandon Sanderson

A thing of nature.
For every Push, there is a Pull. A consequence. — Brandon Sanderson

There isn't much time for a plan. This is more of a hunch with scaffolding. — Brandon Sanderson

To be young is about action. To be a scholar is about informed action. — Brandon Sanderson

It's funny, Vasher thought, How many things begin with my getting thrown into prison. — Brandon Sanderson

Novels aren't just happy escapes; they are slivers of people's souls, nailed to the pages, dripping ink from veins of wood pulp. Reading the right one at the right time can make all the difference. — Brandon Sanderson

There was no correcting past mistakes, especially since he could see no real 'mistakes' he had made. He had done the best he could, and that had proven insufficient. — Brandon Sanderson

I can't decide if you're a fool, Vin thought toward it, or if you simply exist in a way that makes you incapable of considering some things. — Brandon Sanderson

A man should never pull a trigger unless he's willing to kill. And if the other fellow is armed, I'm going to aim for the chest. That way, when people do die around me, it's the right ones. — Brandon Sanderson

Well, that's because they're wrong and I'm right. No more reading for you. Let's go get some ice cream."
"I don't know if the kitchen has any," Joel said. "It's hard to get in the summers, and - "
"Not from the kitchen, stupid," Melody said, rolling her eyes. "From the parlor out on Knight Street."
"Oh. I've ... never been there."
"What! That's a tragedy."
"Melody, everything is a tragedy to you."
"Not having ice cream," she proclaimed, "is the culmination of all disasters! That's it. No more discussion. We're going. Follow. — Brandon Sanderson

It is time for us to fight, and we do so not because we seek the glory of men, but because the other options are worse. We follow the Codes not because they bring gain, but because we loathe the people we would otherwise become. We stand here on this battlefield alone because of who we are.
Death is the end of all men! What is the measure of him once he is gone? The wealth he accumulated and left for his heirs to squabble over? The glory he obtained,only to be passed on to those who slew him? The lofty positions he held through happenstance? No. We fight here because we understand. The end is the same. It is the path that separates men. When we taste that end, we will do so with our heads held high, eyes to the sun.
I am not ashamed of what I have become. Other men may debase themselves to destroy me. Let them have their glory. For I will retain mine! — Brandon Sanderson

What wonders could be achieved, what progress could be made, if mankind were to permanently set aside its squabblings and join together? — Brandon Sanderson

ven with the reduced army numbers, Kaladin passed three patrols as his men marched toward the gates. That was three more than he'd ever seen in Sadeas's camp. — Brandon Sanderson

He moved like some ancient god of lore, presiding over a battlefield of miniature mortals who couldn't see him, but certainly felt his almighty hand. Except, if Dennison was a god, his specialty certainly wasn't war. — Brandon Sanderson

I wonder if you could do that to a man. Pull him apart, emotion by emotion, bit by bit, bloody chunk by bloody chunk. Then combine them back together into something else, — Brandon Sanderson

You bastard!" Wax shouted toward the box.
"Now, now," the box said. "That's patently false, Waxillium. You have a very clear understanding of my parentage. — Brandon Sanderson

Start writing the things that you are reading or that you want to be published doing. — Brandon Sanderson

They got these pancakes here," she said, "with things cooked into them. Supposed to be super tasty, and they eat them during the Weeping. Ten varieties. I'm gonna steal one of each."
"You came all this way, leaving behind luxury, to eat some pancakes."
"Really awesome pancakes."
"Despite the fact that a deific Shardbearer is here-a man who went to great lengths to try to execute you. — Brandon Sanderson

The number 1 thing that I don't want to see in a story is when characters exist simply to be proven wrong. — Brandon Sanderson

She remembered timidly standing atop the Luthadel city wall, afraid to use her Allomancy to jump off, despite Kelsier's coaxing. Now she could step off a cliff and muse thoughtfully to herself on the way down. — Brandon Sanderson

Well," she said, "I should think it would do every man good to have a wife who isn't as in awe of him as everyone else is. Somebody has to keep you humble. — Brandon Sanderson

Wayne liked how banks worked. They had style. Many people, they'd keep their money out of sight, hidden under beds and some such. What was the fun of that? But a bank ... a bank was a target. Building a place like this, then stuffing it full of cash, was like climbing atop a hill and daring anyone who approached to try to knock you off. — Brandon Sanderson

It was the teaching itself that I loved. At least, I loved it back when I thought it would be enough to change things. — Brandon Sanderson

I understood in a moment of stillness,' Litima read. 'Those candle flames were like the lives of men. So fragile. So deadly. Left alone, they lit and warmed. Let run rampant, they would destroy the very things they were meant to illuminate. — Brandon Sanderson

Vin, Vin. Why can't you see? This isn't about good or evil. Morality doesn't even enter into it. Good men will kill as quickly for what they want as evil men - only the things they want are different. — Brandon Sanderson

Breeze shrugged. Manipulation works so well on a personal level, i don't see why it wouldn't be an equally viable national policy. — Brandon Sanderson

He actually did it, didn't he?" Marsh said, shaking his head in wonder. "That bastard. There are two things I'll never forgive him for. The first is for stealing my dream of overthrowing the Final Empire, then actually succeeding at it."
Vin paused. "And the second?"
Marsh turned spike-heads towards her. "Getting himself killed to do it. — Brandon Sanderson

Ham rubbed his chin. I don't know, Breeze. It's an interesting question. By influencing her emotions, did you take away her ability to choose? If, for instance, she were to kill or steal while under your control, would the crime be hers or yours? — Brandon Sanderson

Oh, and one thing. Please, please don't depend on me too much. I mean that. I'm not going to be of much help. If your plots come to a head - if things go wrong at the last moment and you're in danger or distress - don't think of me. I will fail you. That I promise from my heart with absolute sincerity. - Lightsong — Brandon Sanderson

If you're always on time, it implies that you never have anything better you should be doing. — Brandon Sanderson

When you can't have freedom and safety, boy, which do you choose? — Brandon Sanderson

A man can say all kinds of things, but where he sets his spheres, that's where his heart is. — Brandon Sanderson

He ate my horse. — Brandon Sanderson

What is it we value? Innovation. Originality. Novelty. But most importantly ... timeliness. I fear you may be too late, my confused, unfortunate, friend. — Brandon Sanderson

Yellow mustard, onions, chunked tomatoes, sweet pickle relish, peppers - whole, of course, and pickled - a dill pickle slice, and a pinch of celery salt. Just like I remembered. A true Chicago dog looks like someone fired a bazooka at a vegetable stand, then scraped the remnants off the wall and slathered it on a tube of meat. I — Brandon Sanderson

However a man who was honest and clever was always, ALWAYS more difficult to scam than someone who was both dishonest and clever.
Sincerity. It was so difficult , by definition, to fake. — Brandon Sanderson

Mankind had a chance to reach the stars - but all they did was use that abilty to cast down fire upon one another. Eyes always downward, never toward the lights above — Brandon Sanderson

Yes, I could have traveled quickly. But all men have the same ultimate destination. Whether we find our end in a hallowed sepulcher or a pauper's ditch, all save the Heralds themselves must dine with the Nightwatcher. And so, does the destination matter? Or is it the path we take? I declare that no accomplishment has substance nearly as great as the road used to achieve it. We are not creatures of destinations. Is it the journey that shapes us. Our callused feet, our backs strong from carrying the weight of our travels, our eyes open with the fresh delight of experiences lived. In the end, I must proclaim that no good can be achieved of false means. For the substance of our existence is not in the achievement, but in the method. The Monarch must understand this; he must not become so focused on what he wishes to accomplish that he diverts his gaze from the path he must take to arrive there. — Brandon Sanderson

I'm not really sure why. But ... do you stop loving someone just because they betray you? I don't think so. That's what makes the betrayal hurt so much - pain, frustration, anger ... and I still loved her. I still do. — Brandon Sanderson

Are you going to play music for me?" "No. You wouldn't appreciate it." "Then why are you here?" "I like visiting people in prison. I can say whatever I want to them, and they can't do anything about it." He looked up at Kaladin, then rested his hands on his instrument, smiling. "I've come for a story." "What story?" "The one you're going to tell me." "Bah," Kaladin said, lying back down on his bench. — Brandon Sanderson

Of course I am," Wax said. "This is my second marriage. I'm an old hand at the practice by now." Wayne grinned. "Oh, is that how it works? 'Cuz in my experience, marryin' is the one thing people seem to get worse at the more they do it. Well, that and bein' alive. — Brandon Sanderson

Kaladin hoped for something else. Hoped. Yes, he'd discovered that he could still hope. A spear in his hands. An enemy to face. He could live like that. — Brandon Sanderson

It's a mystery," Vin said, narrowing her eyes and smiling. "We Mistborn are incredibly mysterious."
Elend paused." Um ... I'm Mistborn too, Vin. That doesn't make any sense."
"We Mistborn need not make sense," Vin said." It's beneath us. Come on-the sun's already down. We need to get moving. — Brandon Sanderson

And the Shdaow fell upon the Land, and the World was riven stone from stone. The oceans fled, and the mountains were swallowed up, and the nations were scattered to the eight corners of the World. The moon was as blood, and the sun was as ashes. The seas boiled, and the living envied the dead. All was shattered, and all but memory lost, and one memory above all others, of him who brought the Shadow and the Breaking of the World. And him they named Dragon. - from Aleth nin Taerin alta Camora, The Breaking of the World. Authoer unknown, the Fourth Age. — Brandon Sanderson

The more hungry she got, the less other worries bothered her. Eating was a problem for now. Being killed by Denth or Vasher was a problem for later. — Brandon Sanderson

Glass broke and metal tools clattered to the ground.
"Have you any idea what all of that is worth?" Shezler growled, lowering his arm and advancing.
"Your soul, apparently," Kelsier whispered. — Brandon Sanderson

Waxillium had seen some odd things in his life. He'd visited koloss camps in the Roughs, even been invited to join their numbers. He'd met and spoken with God himself and had received a personal gift from Death. That did not prepare him for the sight of a pretty young woman's chest turning nearly transparent, one of the breasts splitting and offering up the hilt of a small handgun. — Brandon Sanderson

Anything that is possible is actually reality, given infinity. — Brandon Sanderson

Like slipping on a banana peel around a corner at eighty miles an hour. Piece of cake. — Brandon Sanderson

Not that he was a fool. No, the book was full of insight. Disturbing insight. The Lord Mistborn advocated gathering the Metalborn who were elderly or terminally ill, then asking them to sacrifice themselves to make these ... spikes, which could in turn be used to create individuals of great power. — Brandon Sanderson

So many questions. Could she not think about what the answers might be before asking? — Brandon Sanderson

Err on the side of awesome. — Brandon Sanderson

Why is it," Marasi said angrily, "that small-minded men must destroy that which they know is better, and greater, than they? — Brandon Sanderson

He was protecting. He was saving. Yet he was killing. How could something so terrible be so beautiful at the same time? — Brandon Sanderson