Of course some days are easier than others, but my worst day is better than being in most humdrum occupations.

I'm fortunate that the books sell, but even more fortunate to live in Chatham, to be very happily married and to have, on the whole, a fairly clear conscience.

What I mean by that is that the point of life, as I see it, is not to write books or scale mountains or sail oceans, but to achieve happiness, and preferably an unselfish happiness.

Life is a jest of the Gods and there is no justice. You must learn to laugh… or else you'll weep yourself to death.

Madness ends sometimes. The Gods decree it, not man.

There are seasons of our lives when nothing seems to be happening, when no smoke betrays a burned town or homestead and few tears are shed for the newly dead. I have learned not to trust those times, because if the world is at peace then it means someone is planning war.

We make children and wealth and amass land and build halls and assemble armies and give great feasts, but only one thing survives us. Reputation.