Dalinar Quotes & Sayings

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

Something is either right or it's wrong," Dalinar said, feeling stubborn. "The Almighty doesn't come into it."
"God," Navani said flatly, "doesn't come into whether his commands are right or wrong."
"Er. Yes. — 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

The kiss was yours, Dalinar,' she said idly, pulling open the door and entering his antechamber.
'You seduced me to it.'
'What? Seduced?' She glanced back at him. 'Dalinar, I've never been more open and honest in my life.'
'I know,' Dalinar said, smiling. 'That was the seductive part. — Brandon Sanderson

Adolin nodded curtly. He was still angry, Dalinar could see, but he chose to follow Dalinar - and part of following a leader was supporting him even when the battle turned against him. — Brandon Sanderson

I am but a man, Dalinar, so much as I wish it were not true at times. I am no Radiant. And while I am your friend, please understand that our goals do not completely align. You must not trust yourself with me. If I have to watch this world crumble and burn to get what I want, I will do so. With tears, yes, but I would let it happen. — Brandon Sanderson

Can't you just relax," she asked him, "just for a little while?"
"The rules - "
"Everyone else - "
"I cannot be everyone else!" Dalinar said, more sharply than he intended. "If I ignore our code and ethics, what am I, Navani? The other highprinces and lighteyes deserve recrimination for what they do, and I have let them know it. If I abandon my principles, then I become something far worse than they. A hypocrite! — Brandon Sanderson

If I should die," Dalinar said, "then I would do so having lived my life right. It is not the destination that matters, but how one arrives there."
"The Codes?"
"No. The Way of Kings."
"That storming book. — Brandon Sanderson

That was why he'd come back. It was about Tien, it was about Dalinar, and it was about what was right - but most of all, it was about protecting people. This was the man he wanted to be. — Brandon Sanderson

Exhaustion," Dalinar said, "pain, suffering. This is what victory usually feels — Brandon Sanderson

Wit was insulting each person as they stepped onto the island. "Brightness Marakal! What a
disaster that hairstyle is; how brave of you to show it to the world. Brightlord Marakal, I wish you'd
warned us you were going to attend; I'd have forgone supper. I do so hate being sick after a full meal.
Brightlord Cadilar! How good it is to see you. Your face reminds me of someone dear to me."
"Really?" wizened Cadilar said, hesitating.
"Yes," Wit said, waving him on, "my horse. Ah, Brightlord Neteb, you smell unique today - did you
attack a wet whitespine, or did one just sneeze on you? Lady Alami! No, please, don't speak - it's much
easier to maintain my illusions regarding your intelligence that way. And Brightlord Dalinar." Wit nodded
to Dalinar as he passed. "Ah, my dear Brightlord Taselin. Still engaged in your experiment to prove a
maximum threshold of human idiocy? Good for you! Very empirical of you. — Brandon Sanderson

This was life. This was control. Gavilar had been the leader, the momentum, and the essence of their conquest. But Dalinar had been the warrior. Their opponents had surrendered to Gavilar's rule, but the Blackthorn - he was the man who had scattered them, the one who had dueled their leaders and slain their best Shardbearers. — Brandon Sanderson

How are your accommodations?" Dalinar asked.
"Sir? I'm in storming prison." A smile cracked Dalinar's face.
"So I see. Calm yourself, soldier. If I'd ordered you to guard a room for a week, would you have done it?"
"Yes."
"Then consider this your duty. Guard this room."
"I'll make sure nobody unauthorized runs off with the chamber pot, sir. — Brandon Sanderson

Sometimes the prize is not worth the costs. The means by which we achieve victory are as important as the victory itself. — Brandon Sanderson

The foolishness of men who care, Dalinar," Wit said. "And the brilliance of those who do not. The second depend on the first - but also exploit the first - while the first misunderstand the second, hoping that the second are more like the first. And all of their games steal our time. Second by second. — Brandon Sanderson

He holds the most frightening and terrible of all of the Shards. Ponder on that for a time, you old reptile, and tell me if your insistence on nonintervention holds firm. Because I assure you, Rayse will not be similarly inhibited. — Brandon Sanderson

Adolin was there in a heartbeat, attacking with more skill than any other man Dalinar had known. The lad was a genius with the Blade, an artist with paint of only one shade. — Brandon Sanderson

What is a man's life worth?" Dalinar asked softly.
"The slavemasters say one is worth about two emerald broams," Kaladin said, frowning.
"And what do you say?"
"A life is priceless," he said immediately, quoting his father.
Dalinar smiled, wrinkle lines extending from the corners of his eyes. "Coincidentally, that is the exact value of a Shardblade. So today, you and your men sacrificed to buy me twenty-six hundred priceless lives. And all I had to repay you with was a single priceless sword. I call that a bargain. — Brandon Sanderson

Dalinar forced himself to be calm. "Roion, we cannot continue to treat this war as a game."
"All wars are games. The greatest kind, with the pieces lost real lives, the prizes captured making for real wealth! This is the life for which men exist. To fight, to kill, to win. — Brandon Sanderson

Navani!" Dalinar shouted, pulling his horse to a slippery stop across the tarp from her. "I need a miracle!"
"Working on it," she shouted back. — Brandon Sanderson

A leader did not slump. A leader was in control. Even when he least felt like he controlled anything. Especially then. — Brandon Sanderson

Yes, we saw from above," Elhokar said. "Perhaps a few of us could ride ahead. ... " "Your Majesty," Dalinar said. "The point of bringing my troops along would be somewhat undermined if you left them behind." Elhokar rolled his eyes. Dalinar did not yield, his expression as immobile as the rocks around them. — Brandon Sanderson

How . . ." Dalinar said. "You fell into a chasm!"
"I fell face-first, sir," Kaladin said, "and fortunately, I'm particularly hard-headed. — Brandon Sanderson

She wandered through the crowded feast hall, listening as wine greased tongues and dimmed minds. Her uncle Dalinar was in the full swing of it, rising from the high table to shout for the Parshendi to bring out their drummers. Jasnah's brother, Elhokar, hurried to shush their uncle - though the Alethi politely ignored Dalinar's outburst. All save Elhokar's wife, Aesudan, who snickered primly behind a handkerchief. Jasnah — Brandon Sanderson

He fought as he wished he had all those years ago, for the chance he had missed. In that moment between storms
when the rain stilled and the winds drew in their breaths to blow
he danced with the slayer of kings, and somehow held his own. — Brandon Sanderson