The morning air was dark with the smoke of burning gods.

We look up at the same stars and see such different things." - Jon Snow

I dreamed... in the black of night a man asks all the questions he dare not ask by daylight. For me, the past years, only one question has remained. Why would the gods take my eyes and my strength, yet condemn me to linger on so long, frozen and forgotten? What use could they have for an old done man like me? ... I remember, Sam. I still remember. Remember what? Dragons, Aemon whispered.

I suppose I'm a lapsed Catholic. You would consider me an atheist or agnostic.

The heart lies and the head plays tricks with us, but the eyes see true.

The real issue lies in the North beyond the Wall. Stannis becomes one of the few characters fully to understand that, which is why in spite of everything he is a righteous man.

Perhaps that is the secret. It is not what we do, so much as why we do it.