“...somehow the old philosophers could make even the most salacious topics seem boring.”

“You're a mean old man, Your Grace.""And that is the way it should be." Roial informed. "Mean young men are trivial, and kindly old men boring. Here, let me get us something to drink.”

“People today...it seems they are good, or sometimes evil, mostly by inertia, not by choice.”

“The strong lines of the woman's face bespoke hard-won wisdom and courage, and somehow that made watching her more difficult. If such a woman could be defeated by Elantris, what hope was there for Raoden?”

“That is always how it is, though, isn't it?” Shuden asked. “Those who can least afford extravagance seem to be the ones most determined to spend what they have left.”

“Sometimes it was daunting, knowing how easily I could break things. This one simple curse seemed to dominate my entire life.”

“Kelsier smiled. 'It means that you, Vin, are a very special person. You have a power that most high noblemen envy. It is a power that, had you been born an aristocrat, would have made you one of the most deadly and influential people in all of the final empire.'Kelsier leaned forward again. 'But, you weren't born an aristocrat. You're not noble, Vin. You don't have to play by their rules--and that makes you even more powerful.”