Books to Live By

A collection of the book quotes that I find important.

[bookstolivebybible]

Our hunger for power outweighs our conscience.

Brandon Sanderson, The Emperor's Soul

[bookstolivebybible]

The Empire was not a terrible thing. Neither was it a wonderful thing. The empire simply was. The people suffered its rule because they were comfortable with its little tyrannies. Corruption was inevitable. You lived with it. It was either that or accept the chaos of the unknown.

Brandon Sanderson, The Emperor's Soul

[bookstolivebybible]

Sincerity. It was so difficult, by definition, to fake.

Brandon Sanderson, The Emperor's Soul

[bookstolivebybible]

See, that’s the tragedy of the human condition. No one wants to be corrupted by power when they set out to get it. They have good, even noble reasons for doing whatever it is they do. They don’t want to misuse it, they don’t want to abuse it, and they don’t want to become vicious monsters. Good people, decent people, set out to take the high road, to pick up power without letting it change them or push them away from their ideals. But it keeps happening anyway. History is full of it. As a rule, people aren’t good at handling power. And the second you start to think you’re better at controlling your power than anyone else, you’ve already taken the first step.

Cold Days, Jim Butcher

[bookstolivebybible]

The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means.

Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest

[bookstolivebybible]

All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does, and that is his

Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest

[bookstolivebybible]

Rule number one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.

John Berendt, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

[bookstolivebybible]

“Curiosity killed the cat,” Fesgao remarked, his dark eyes unreadable. Aly rolled her eyes. Why did everyone say that to her? “People always forget the rest of the saying,” she complained. “‘And satisfaction brought it back.”

Tricker's Choice, Tamora Pierce

[bookstolivebybible]

If you take a book with you on a journey," Mo had said when he put the first one in her box, "an odd thing happens: The book begins collecting your memories. And forever after you have only to open that book to be back where you first read it. It will all come into your mind with the very first words: the sights you saw in that place, what it smelled like, the ice cream you ate while you were reading it... yes, books are like flypaper—memories cling to the printed page better than anything else

Cornelia Funke, Inkheart

[bookstolivebybible]

Some books should be tasted, some devoured, but only a few should be chewed and digested thoroughly.

Cornelia Funke, Inkheart

[bookstolivebybible]

It's true that adventures are good for people even when they are very young. Adventures can get in a person's blood even if he doesn't remember having them.

Eva Ibbotson, The Secret of Platform 13

[bookstolivebybible]

Pain is to be endured. It ends or it does not.

Jim Butcher, Fool Moon

[bookstolivebybible]

It's all right to be afraid. You just don't let it stop you from doing your job.

Jim Butcher, Fool Moon

[bookstolivebybible]

Clothing really doesn't change a man," Elend said. "But it changes how others react to him. Tindwyl's words. I think... I think the trick is convincing yourself that you deserve the reactions you get. You can wear the courts dresses, Vin, but make them your own. Don't worry you aren't giving people what they want. Give them who you are and let that be enough.

Brandon Sanderson, The Well of Ascension

[bookstolivebybible]

Do they understand you, Vin? Can they understand you? And, can a man love something he doesn't understand?

Brandon Sanderson, The Well of Ascension

[bookstolivebybible]

I always channel my emotions into my work. That way, I don't hurt anyone but myself.

Suzan Collins, Catching Fire

[bookstolivebybible]

Technically, I am unarmed. But no one should ever underestimate the harm that fingernails can do. Especially if the target is unprepared.

Suzan Collins, Mockingjay