Schemes are like fruit, they require a certain ripening.

Of all the bright cruel lies they tell you, the cruelest is the one called love.

I've always preferred writing about grey characters and human characters. Whether they are giants or elves or dwarves, or whatever they are, they're still human, and the human heart is still in conflict with the self.

The morning had dawned clear and cold, with a crispness that hinted at the end of summer.

If the novels are still being read in 50 years, no one is ever going to say: 'What's great about that sixth book is that he met his deadline!' It will be about how the whole thing stands up.

Mother, I want to see him fly!

The only game. The game of thrones.