There's no point in killing an opponent... There's no triumph over a corpse, but a beaten opponent, who will remain beaten every day of the remainder of their sad and wretched life, is something to treasure.

What I've always said was, hang in there, let me write what I want to write, and you'll probably like it.

I MAY HAVE ALLOWED MYSELF SOME FLICKER OF EMOTION IN THE RECENT PAST, said Death, BUT I CAN GIVE IT UP ANY TIME I LIKE.

Legends don't have to make sense. They just have to be beautiful. Or at least interesting.

If I were you, I'd sue my face for slander.

Poetic simile was strictly limited to statements like 'his mighty steed was as fleet as the wind on a fairly calm day, say about Force Three,' and any loose talk about a beloved having a face that launched a thousand ships would have to be backed by evidence that the object of desire did indeed look like a bottle of champagne.

Always remember that the crowd that applauds your coronation is the same crowd that will applaud your beheading. People like a show.