How did men believe in something that preached love on one hand, yet taught destruction of unbelievers on the other? How did one rationalize belief with no proof? How could they honestly expect him to have faith in something that taught of miracles and wonders in the far past, but carefully gave excuses for why such things didn't occur in the present day?
Brandon SandersonThey say a man doesn't know himself until he faces death for the first time. . . I don't know about that. It seems to me that the person you are when you're about to die isn't as important as the person you are during the rest of your life. Why should a few moments matter more than an entire lifetime?
Brandon SandersonWhy did they believe? Because they saw miracles. Things one man took as chance, a man of faith took as a sign. A loved one recovering from disease, a fortunate business deal, a chance meeting with a long lost friend. It wasn't the grand doctrines or the sweeping ideals that seemed to make believers out of men. It was the simple magic in the world around them.
Brandon SandersonI was ten,โ I said. โGive me a little credit.โ โTo a boy with aspirations like that, I would extend my respectโbut not credit. Or life insurance.โ Abraham sounded amused. โYou are an interesting man, David Charleston, but you sound like you were an even more interesting child.
Brandon Sanderson