Once the blinders are off, it's rather hard to go back to seeing things the way you used to.

... sometimes good people [are] helpless... terrible things happen... to good people... there [are] sad endings as well as happy ones.

In a calm, clear voice, she suggested that the wyrsa in question could do several highly improbable, athletically difficult and possibly biologically impractical things involving its own mother, a few household implements, and a dead fish.

You don't spend most of your life in other people's heads without losing every prejudice you ever had.

The people who keep coping, keep trying, no matter how many blows Fate takes at them. Nobody'll make a song about them, but they're heroes all the same.

I think I know why you never married, Sarah." "Well, and I reckoned if I wanted something that'd come and go as he pleased, take me for granted, and ignore me when he chose, I'd get a cat. And if I wanted something I'd always have to be picking up after, getting into trouble, but slavishly devoted, I'd get a dog.

It's only gossip if you repeat it. Until then, it's gathering information.