“How noble. Oh we would fell many...-you with magic and blade, whilst my weapons would be tooth and claw-but it would be futile in the end. They are too numerous.... We cannot defeat them, only be defeated.- Saphira”

“If a man feared defeat, he would never give battle... Every victory is inevitably succeeded by defeat. It is the nature of our lives. A man might fight a thousand battles and emerge triumphant from every one; still, he will suffer defeat in the end, for we die and we are forgotten. If we cannot face defeat, we must live always, throughout our lives, in fear. For it awaits us all.”

“You're right though. I should have discussed my plan with you. I'm sorry. From now on, I promise I will consult with you before I do anything you don't expect. Is that exceptable?' (Eragon)Only if it involves weapons, magic, kings, or family members.' (Saphira)Or flowers.' (Eragon)Or flowers. I don't need to know if you decide to eat some bread and cheese in the middle of the night.' (Saphira)Unless a man with a very long knife is waiting for me outside of my tent.'(Eragon)If you could not defeat a single man with a very long knife, you would be a poor excuse for a Rider indeed.' (Saphira)”

“Death is not such a bad thing. What would be a bad thing would be living without challenges. Without knowing defeat, we cannot know what victory is. There is no life without death.”

“Tragedy cannot be the end of our lives. We cannot allow it to control and defeat us.”

“There’s some of them’ll be nursing a guid scratch or two on their hinder-ends this night.… Man, it was a rout.’ ‘I imagine,’ said Piero Strozzi, his dark face impassive, ‘that my lord Grey’s army would not relish their defeat either.’ ‘Oh, aye, the English,’ said Buccleuch absently. ‘We are, after all, at war with them and not with the Kerrs,’ the Marshal said mildly.”