We were kingโs men, knights, and heroes . . . but some knights are dark and full of terror, my lady. War makes monsters of us all.โ โAre you saying you are monsters?โ โI am saying we are human. You are not the only one with wounds, Lady Brienne
George R. R. MartinI want you to be afraid to turn the page (and to do that) you need to show right from the beginning that you're playing for keeps.
George R. R. MartinDeath, there will be death, aye. Your lordship lost a son at the Red Wedding. I lost four upon the Blackwater. And why? Because the Lannisters stole the throne. Go to Kingโs Landing and look on Tommen with your own eyes, if you doubt me. A blind man could see it. What does Stannis offer you? Vengeance. Vengeance for my sons and yours, for your husbands and your fathers and your brothers. Vengeance for your murdered lord, your murdered king, your butchered princes. Vengeance!
George R. R. MartinLords are gold and knights steel, but two links can't make a chain. You also need silver and iron and lead, tin and copper and bronze and all the rest, and those are farmers and smiths and merchants and the like. A chain needs all sorts of metals, and a land needs all sorts of people.
George R. R. Martin