When you find yourself in bed with an ugly woman, the best thing to do is close your eyes and get on with it

Give me a good sharp knife and a good sharp cheese and I’m a happy man.

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.

What could he have done, one man against so many?" He could have tried, Brienne thought.

Ruling is hard. This was maybe my answer to Tolkien, whom, as much as I admire him, I do quibble with. Lord of the Rings had a very medieval philosophy: that if the king was a good man, the land would prosper. We look at real history and it's not that simple... Real-life kings had real-life problems to deal with... My people who are trying to rule don't have an easy time of it. Just having good intentions doesn't make you a wise king.

A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies.

You mistake patience for forbearance.