And if I'm guilty of having gratuitous sex, then I'm also guilty of having gratuitous violence, and gratuitous feasting, and gratuitous description of clothes, and gratuitous heraldry, because very little of this is necessary to advance the plot. But my philosophy is that plot advancement is not what the experience of reading fiction is about. If all we care about is advancing the plot, why read novels? We can just read Cliffs Notes.
George R. R. MartinWe read fantasy to find the colors again, I think. To taste strong spices and hear the songs the sirens sang.
George R. R. MartinExplain to me why it is more noble to kill ten thousand men in battle than a dozen at dinner.
George R. R. MartinHe pushed himself to his feet. โDonโt lie, Sansa. I am malformed, scarred, and small, butโฆโ she could see him groping โโฆabed, when the candles are blown out, I am made no worse than other men. In the dark, I am the Knight of Flowers.โ He took a draught of wine. โI am generous. Loyal to those who are loyal to me. Iโve proven Iโm no craven. And I am cleverer than most, surely wits count for something. I can even be kind. Kindness is not a habit with us Lannisters, I fear, but I know I have some somewhere. I could beโฆ I could be good to you.
George R. R. MartinA man of the Night's Watch lives his life for the realm. Not for a king, nor a lord, nor the honor of this house or that house, neither for gold nor glory nor a woman's love, but for the realm, and all the people in it. A man of the Night's Watch takes no wife and fathers no sons. Our wife is duty. Our mistress is honor. And you are the only sons we shall ever know.
George R. R. Martin