“It's a time of war, Alera. [...] Nothing is fair, and nothing is right, and it isn't easy to understand or accept.”

“It isn't easy to accept that suffering can also be beautiful... it's difficult. It's something you can only understand if you dig deeply into yourself.”

“There's nothing you can do that can't be doneNothing you can sing that can't be sung. Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game. It's easy.Nothing you can make that can't be made. No one you can save that can't be saved. Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time. It's easy.Nothing you can know that isn't known. Nothing you can see that isn't shown. Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be. It's easy.”

“There is nothing harder to estimate than a writer's time, nothing harder to keep track of. There are moments—moments of sustained creation—when his time is fairly valuable; and there are hours and hours when a writer's time isn't worth the paper he is not writing anything on.”

“It's funny isn't it, how everything's changing all time. Nothing stays still.”

“It isn't fair she should have everything and I nothing. She isn't better or cleverer or much prettier than me…only luckier.”