He found himself weeping. Not for the future or for the emperor. These were the tears of a man who saw before himself a masterpiece. True art was more than beauty; it was more than technique. It was not just imitation. It was boldness, it was contrast, it was subtlety.

A man can only lead when others accept him as their leader, and he has only as much authority as his subjects give to him. All of the brilliant ideas in the world cannot save your kingdom if no one will listen to them.

...A man can only stumble for so long before he either falls or stands up straight.

Lately, I feel like my life is a book written in a language I don't know how to read.

Ruin still used Reen's voice-it was familiar, something that had always seemed a part of her. Discovering that it belonged to that thing...it was like finding out that her reflection really belonged to someone else, and that she'd never actually seen herself.

My dear, did you just try to prove the existence of God with your cleavage?

It is you!" the man exclaimed. "We thought you weren't coming for another week!" "Ashe," Sarene mumbled, "who is this lunatic and what does he want with me?