I am surrounded by flatterers and fools.

I've been many kinds of writers in my career: novelist; tele-playwright; short story writer. As a high-school student, I wrote amateur pieces for fanzines, and I've written for Hollywood.

Fear cuts deeper than swords.

A man who won't listen can't hear.

Needle was Robb and Bran and Rickon, her mother and her father, even Sansa. Needle was Winterfell's grey walls, and the laughter of its people. Needle was the summer snows, Old Nan's stories, the heart tree with its red leaves and scary face, the warm earthy smell of the glass gardens, the sound of the north wind rattling the shutters of her room. Needle was Jon Snow's smile. He used to mess my hair and call me "little sister," she remembered, and suddenly there were tears in her eyes.

It was astonishing to see how angry Cersei could wax over accusations she knew perfectly well to be true.

Man wants to be the king o' the rabbits, he best wear a pair o' floppy ears.