Robert Jordan Quotes & Sayings

Never think I have abandoned you. When the sun shines on you, it is my smile. When you hear the breeze stir through the apple blossoms, it is my whisper that I love you. My love is yours forever. — Robert Jordan

Strangely, she still felt no fear. She thought if she survived this, she would never feel fear again. — Robert Jordan

Your body is only clothing. Your flesh will wither, but you are your heart and mind, and they do not change except to grow stronger. — Robert Jordan

As she spoke, the dice started tumbling inside his head. — Robert Jordan

If you plan for the worst, all surprises are pleasant. — Robert Jordan

A man must know when to retreat from a woman, but a wise man knows that sometimes he must stand and face her. — Robert Jordan

No man should have another man's voice in his head. — Robert Jordan

Some men [ ... ] choose to seek greatness, while others are forced to it. It is always better to choose than to be forced.
A man who is forced is never completely his own master. He must dance on the strings of those who forced him. — Robert Jordan

Remember the flame, lad, and the void. It was an odd thing Tam had taught him. Concentrate on a single flame and feed all your passions into it - fear, hate, anger - until your mind became empty. Become one with the void, Tam said, and you could do anything. — Robert Jordan

Lews Therin hummed even harder, making Rand wish the man had a face so he could hit him. — Robert Jordan

All things change. Until we wake, the dream drifts on the wind. — Robert Jordan

Fear will kill you if you don't control it. — Robert Jordan

Facing them (men) with knives and spears was much easier than loving them, much easier. — Robert Jordan

Perrin sighed, and shrugged again. She had not asked him to keep the beard, and she would not. Yet he knew he was going to put off shaving again. — Robert Jordan

It was the room where they — Robert Jordan

Love is an odd thing. As odd a thing as there is. — Robert Jordan

The end is near," Moridin said. "The Wheel has groaned its final rotation, the clock has lost its spring, the serpent heaves its final gasps. — Robert Jordan

If wishes were wings, sheep would fly. — Robert Jordan

Morning. A time for new hopes; a time to be up and doing. New — Robert Jordan

Nothing remained to be defended now, only a nation to avenge, and he had been trained to that from his first step. With his mother's gift at his throat and his father's sword in his hand, with the ring branded on his heart, he had fought from his sixteenth nameday to avenge Malkier. But never had he led men into the Blight. Bukama had ridden with him, and others, but he would not lead men there. That war was his alone. The dead could not be returned to life, a land any more than a man. — Robert Jordan

Most of those we call heroes only did what they had to do. — Robert Jordan

Prudence is for those who intend to live long lives, — Robert Jordan

There were no ravens to be seen. Abruptly a fox burst out of the trees, running hard. Ravens poured from the branches after it. The beat of their wings almost drowned out a desperate whining from the fox. A black whirlwind dove and swirled around it. The fox's jaws snapped at them, but they darted in, and darted away untouched, black beaks glistening wetly. The fox turned back toward the trees, seeking the safety of its den. It ran awkwardly now, head low, fur dark and bloody, and the ravens flapped around it, more and more of them at once, the fluttering mass thickening until it hid the fox completely. As suddenly as they had descended the ravens rose, wheeled, and vanished over the next rise to the south. A misshapen lump of torn fur marked what had been the fox. — Robert Jordan

The rose petal floats on water. The kingfisher flashes above the pond. Life and beauty swirl in the midst of death. — Robert Jordan

The roar behind him was louder than anything he had ever heard in his life; a monstrous fist punched him in the back, knocking all the wind out of him even before he landed, sprawled on his belly on the wall top, barely holding on to his staff as it swung over the edge. — Robert Jordan

People did not respond to anger. They did not respond to demands. Silence and questions, these were far more effective. — Robert Jordan

May you shelter in the palm of the Creator's hand, and may the last embrace of the mother welcome you home. — Robert Jordan

The sweetness of victory and the bitterness of defeat are alike a knife of dreams.
-From Fog and Steel by Madoc Comadrin — Robert Jordan

Like most Two Rivers folk, Rand had a strong stubborn streak. Outsiders sometimes said it was the prime trait of people in the Two Rivers, that they could give mules lessons and teach stones. — Robert Jordan

The moon by day the sun by night, deaf woman, blind men, jackdaw fool, let the lord of Chaos rule. — Robert Jordan

People are people, low or high. — Robert Jordan

Suddenly he grinned, but his grin was as dark as a scowl; his eyes sparkled merrily, laughing at the foot of the gallows. — Robert Jordan

The more bosom a woman displayed, the less she wanted you to look. Openly, at least. — Robert Jordan

She's not for you, nor you for her; at least, not in the way you both want. — Robert Jordan

Thank you," the young mother said again. "Thank you."
"The Black Tower protects," Logain heard himself say. "Always."
"I will send him to you to be tested when he is of age," the woman promised, holding her son. "I would have him join you, if he has the talent."
The talent. Not the curse. The talent. — Robert Jordan

Mashiara. Beloved of heart and soul, it meant, but a love lost, too. Lost beyond regaining. — Robert Jordan

The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived. — Robert Jordan

He had four rules concerning action and information. Never make a plan without knowing as much as you can of the enemy. Never be afraid to change your plans when you receive new information. Never believe you know everything. And never wait to know everything. The man who waited to know everything was still sitting in his tent when the enemy burned it over his head. Niall — Robert Jordan

You must surrender before you can guide. — Robert Jordan

When there are fish heads and blood in the water, you don't need to see the silverpike to know they are there. — Robert Jordan

Kneel and swear to the Lord Dragon, or you will be knelt. — Robert Jordan

Rand al'Thor is a mule-headed, stone-willed fool of a ... a ... a man! — Robert Jordan

Till Shade is gone, till water is gone, into the Shadow with teeth bared, screaming defiance with the last breath, to spit in Sightblinder's eye on the Last Day. By my honor and the Light, my life will be a dagger for Sightblinder's heart.
Until the Last Day, To Shayol Ghul itself. — Robert Jordan

A man who will not die to save a woman is no man. — Robert Jordan

Always something new, always something I didn't expect, and sometimes it isn't horrible. — Robert Jordan

We have almost always been linked," Brigitte told Nynaeve without taking her eyes from Cain's. "He is usually born well before me - so I know my time approches again when I cannot find him - and I usually hate him at first sight in the flesh. But we nearly always end lovers or wed. A simple story, but I think we have spun it out in a thousand variations. — Robert Jordan

It is the enemy you underestimate who kills you. — Robert Jordan

If you have a sword, and the Aielman has his bare hands, it is an even fight. If you're good. — Robert Jordan

Some can do things others cannot, Nandera said, as if that was enough explanation. — Robert Jordan

Peel the apple in your hand, girl, not the one on the tree, Lini's thin voice seemed to whisper in her ear. Tears are for after; they just waste time before. — Robert Jordan

Huan was born and raised in the House of Aladon, and his family for eleven generations before him, yet even he could be a Listener. — Robert Jordan

And it shall come to pass that what men made shall be shattered, and the Shadow shall lie across the Pattern of the Age, and the Dark One shall once more lay his hand upon the world of man. Women shall weep and men quail as the nations of the earth are rent like rotting cloth. Neither shall anything stand nor abide . . . Yet one shall be born to face the Shadow, born once more as he was born before and shall be born again, time without end. The Dragon shall be Reborn, and there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth at his rebirth. In sackcloth and ashes shall he clothe the people, and he shall break the world again by his coming, tearing apart all ties that bind. Like the unfettered dawn shall he blind us, and burn us, yet shall the Dragon Reborn confront the Shadow at the Last Battle, and his blood shall give us the Light. Let tears flow, O ye people of the world. Weep for your salvation. — Robert Jordan

Caution once forgotten could be forgotten once too often. — Robert Jordan

The young man who stood there was the handsomest mad Rand had ever seen, almost too handsome for masculinity. — Robert Jordan

We are always more afraid than we wish to be, but we can always be braver than we expect. — Robert Jordan

Do not trouble trouble till trouble troubles you. — Robert Jordan

And it came to pass in those days, as it had come before and would come again, that the Dark lay heavy on the land adn weighed down the hearts of men, and the green things failed, and hope died. And men cried out to the Creator, saying, O Light of the Heavens, Light of the World, let the Promised One be born of the mountian, according to the prophecies, as he was in ages past and will be in ages to come. Let the Prince of the Morning sing to the land that green things will grow and the valleys give forth lams. Let the arm of the Lord of the Dawn shelter us from the Dark, and the great sword of justice defend us. Let the Dragon die again on the winds of time.
-from Charal Drianaan te Calamon, The Cycle of the Dragon. Author unknown, the Fourth Age. — Robert Jordan

The Seanchan fight the Shadow.
-message from Dragon Reborn to Egwene — Robert Jordan

Life is uncertainty and struggle, choice and change; one who knew how her life was woven into the Pattern as well as she knew how a thread was laid into a carpet would have the life of an animal. If she did not go mad. Humankind is made for uncertainty, struggle, choice and change. — Robert Jordan

Young men can be impetuous, young men can be rush, young men can be fools, but the Car'a'carn cannot let himself be a young man. — Robert Jordan

The Wheel has turned, for better or worse. And it will keep on turning, as lights die and forests dim, storms call and skies break. Turn it will. The Wheel is not hope, and the Wheel does not care, the Wheel simply is. But so long as it turns, folk may hope, folk may care. For with light that fades, another will eventually grow, and each storm that rages must eventually die. As long as the Wheel turns. As — Robert Jordan

a man's word must be as good as an oath sworn beneath the Light or it was no good at all. — Robert Jordan

The Shadow shall rise across the world, and darken every land, even to the smallest corner, and there shall be neither Light nor safety. And he who shall be born of the Dawn, born of the Maiden, according to Prophecy, he shall stretch forth his hands to catch the Shadow, and the world shall scream in the pain of salvation. All Glory be to the Creator, and to the Light, and to he sho shall be born again. May the Light save us from him.
-from Commentaries on the Karaethon Cycle Sereine dar Shamelle Motara Counsel-Sister to Comaelle, High Queen of Jaramide (circa 325 AB, the Third Age) — Robert Jordan

Be hostile unless you must, Moiraine had said, but above all never be overly friendly. Never be eager — Robert Jordan

You are as eloquent as ever, Mat," Egwene said dryly. "Do you still have your pet fox?"
"I do," Mat said. "He's snuggled up nice and warm. — Robert Jordan

Who we were is lost to all men, and life is bitter. — Robert Jordan

He expected the other man to be dead - not many could survive a thirty-foot fall to cobblestones with another's weight on top of him - but what he had not expected was to see the fellow's dagger driven to the hilt into his own heart. Such an ordinary-looking man to have tried to kill him. Mat did not think he would even have noticed him in a crowded room. — Robert Jordan

Light, women would believe anything about a man so long as it was bad. And the worse it was, the more they had to talk about it. — Robert Jordan

You are quite beautiful, child. Perhaps you should beware of Perrin. I never see him but in the company of beautiful girls. Faile gave Perrin a flat, considering look, then tried to gloss it over quickly. — Robert Jordan

Suddenly, Olver felt a deep warmth. He had lost so many peolpe, but one of them ... one ... had come back for him. — Robert Jordan

The corpse's hand reached up and grabbed Shaisam by the throat. He gasped, thrashing, as the corpse opened its eye.
"There's an odd thing about disease I once heard, Fain," Matrim Cauthon whispered. "Once you catch a disease and survive, you can't get it again. — Robert Jordan

Oh, well," Mat said idly, "she's just the Dragon Reborn's woman."
(about Min) — Robert Jordan

Never choose the card a man wants you to. Mat should have realized that. It was one of the oldest cons in creation. — Robert Jordan

Tuon looked at him, squatting there by the map, moving his fingers over its surface, and suddenly she saw him in a new light. A buffoon? No. A lion stuffed into a horse-stall might look like a peculiar joke, but a lion on the high plains was something very different. Toy was loose on the high plains, now. She felt a chill. What sort of man had she entangled herself with? After all this time, she realized, she had hardly a clue. — Robert Jordan

P.s. In case you don't know what "Do what needs to be done" means, it means that I want you to go bloody slaughter as many of the Sharan channelers as you can. I'll bet you a full Tar Valon mark-it's only been shaved on the sides a little-that you can't kill twenty.-MC
missive from Mat to Galad — Robert Jordan

Only a battle lost is sadder than a battle won. — Robert Jordan

There was nothing a woman would not tell you if you kissed her enough. — Robert Jordan

When an officer runs by with a look like that on his face, you don't ask if he needs help. You just follow! — Robert Jordan

Violence harms the one who does it as much as the one who receives it. You could cut down a tree with an axe. The axe does violence to the tree, and escapes unharmed. Is that how you see it? Wood is soft compared to steel, but the sharp steel is dulled as it chops, and the sap of the tree will rust and pit it. The mighty axe does violence to the helpless tree, and is harmed by it. So it is with men, though the harm is in the spirit. — Robert Jordan

In Shinear, a woman [is] safe anywhere, any time-except from Trollocs and Myrddraal, of course-and any man [will] die to see it so. — Robert Jordan

You do not realize what it means that you force the form of the Age Lace, do you? The ripples of your actions, the ripples of your very existence, spread across the threads of which you will never be aware. The battle is far from yours alone. Yet you stand in the heart of this web in the Pattern. Should you fail, and fall, all fails and fall. — Robert Jordan

Change what you can if it needs
changing, but learn to live with what you can't change. — Robert Jordan

When a dangerous path was your only route to safety, you had to take it. — Robert Jordan

As far as he was concerned, a man who decided to rob and kill deserved what he got when he lost the game. He did not dwell on them, but neither did he jerk his eyes away if they fell on one of the robbers. — Robert Jordan

He said the Dark One intended to blind the Eye of the World, and slay the Great Serpent, kill time itself. — Robert Jordan

That was the trouble with the best of men. They always thought they were doing the right thing. — Robert Jordan

There was a limit to how many insults a man could swallow in silence. — Robert Jordan

There's an old saying in the Two Rivers" Rand said dryly. "'The louder a man tells you he's honest, the harder you must hold on to your purse.'" Another said, "The fox often offers to give the duck its pond. — Robert Jordan

Anyway, I must be far from insufferable, since you've done an excellent job of suffering me these last months. — Robert Jordan

When she drifted off, she was thinking of Ryne, strangely. A pity if he was afraid of her, now. A great pity if he turned out to be a Darkfriend. He was charming, and quite pretty, really. She did not mind a man wanting to see her unclothed, only his telling others about it. — Robert Jordan

Egwene didn't notice someone new entering the tent. Rand did, however, and he spun as the flaps parted and let in light. He frowned at the interloper.
His frown died as soon as he saw the person who entered.
Moiraine. — Robert Jordan

And it was written that no hand but his should wield the Sword held in the Stone, but he did draw it out, like fire in his hand, and his glory did burn the world. Thus did it begin. Thus do we sing his Rebirth. Thus do we sing the beginning. — Robert Jordan

Beauty holds more worth than gold. — Robert Jordan

What you gain on the swings, you lose on the roundabouts. — Robert Jordan

Why, that's like being told to go up in the hills to find lions, only you do not know whether there are any lions, but if there are, they may be hunting you, and they may be disguised as bushes. Oh, and if you find any lions, try not to let them eat you before you can tell where they are. -Elayne — Robert Jordan

Even the great walls of Tar Valon, beyond the range of any siege catapult not on a barge, and worked with the Power till the largest catapult could not mark them in any case, might as well be made of paper against an army that could Travel. But whether Gareth Bryne had learned or not, other men would seize on that idea. The Asha'man already had, it seemed. War had always been ugly, yet it was going to grow uglier. — Robert Jordan

Schemes within schemes. The Great Serpent is a good sign for you Aes Sedai, I think. Someday you may swallow yourselves by accident. — Robert Jordan

I feel . . ." Egwene began weakly, and stopped to swallow. Her face was bloodless pale. "I . . . hurt." A tear leaked from one eye. "Of course you do," Sorilea said briskly. "That is what happens when you let yourself be caught in a man's schemes. — Robert Jordan

Yes ... how else could Demandred explain the skill of the enemy general? Only a man with the experience of an ancient was so masterly at the dance of battlefields. At their core, many battle tactics were simple. Avoid being flanked, meet heavy force with pikes, infantry with a well-trained line, channelers with other channelers. And yet, the finesse of it ... the little details ... these took centuries to master. No man from this Age had lived long enough to learn the details with such care. — Robert Jordan

When change comes, you can scream and try to force things to stay the same. But you'll usually end up getting trampled. However, if you can direct the changes, they can serve you. — Robert Jordan