Explain to me why it is more noble to kill ten thousand men in battle than a dozen at dinner.

She never forgets a slight, real or imagined. She takes caution for cowardice and dissent for defiance. And she is greedy. Greedy for power, for honour, for love.

The only time a man can be brave is when he is afraid.

A bear! A bear! All black and brown and covered in hair!

I would also suggest that any aspiring writer begin with short stories. These days, I meet far too many young writers who try to start off with a novel right off, or a trilogy, or even a nine-book series. That's like starting in at rock climbing by tackling Mt. Everest. Short stories help you learn your craft.

Let his sword break and his shield shatter, Sansa thought coldly as she shoved out through the doors, let his courage fail him and every man desert him.

History is a wheel, for the nature of man is fundamentally unchanging. What has happened before will perforce happen again.