A man was defined not by his flaws, but by how he overcame them.

I killed you once", the Lord Ruler said, turning back to Kelsier. "You tried", Kelsier replied, his voice loud and firm, carrying across the square. "But you can't kill me, Lord Tyrant. I represent that thing you've never been able to kill no matter how hard you try. I am hope.

The problem with being clever, Serene thought with a sigh, is that everyone assumes you're always planning something.

Nothing will train you to write better as a writer, than working on your next book.

The entire point of life is to find ways to get others to do your work for you. Don’t you know anything about basic economics?

You're a very difficult person to manipulate, you know." "Nonsense," he said. "You just have to promise me that I won't have to do a thing, and then I'll do anything you want." "Anything?" "Anything that doesn't require doing anything." "That's nothing, then." "Is it?" "Yes." "Well, that's something.

To age truly was to suffer the ultimate treason, that of one's body against oneself.