“... for most practical purposes, Tarbean had two parts: Waterside and Hillside. Waterside is where people are poor. That makes them beggars, thieves and whores. Hillside is where people are rich. That makes them solicitors, politicians and courtesans.”

“Then I felt something inside me break and music began to pour out into the quiet. My fingers danced; intricate and quick they spun something gossamer and tremulous into the circle of light our fire had made. The music moved like a spiderweb stirred by a gentle breath, it changed like a leaf twisting as it falls to the ground, and it felt like three years Waterside in Tarbean, with a hollowness inside you and hands that ached from the bitter cold.”

“Thieves, Heretics, and Whores”

“Esa parte de mí que todavía no se había marchado de Tarbean quiso echarle mano a su bolsillo.”

“Practice makes the master.”

“A tree doesn't make a thunderstorm, but any fool knows where lightning's going to strike.”

“Owls are wise. They are careful and patient. Wisdom precludes boldness. That is why owls make poor heroes.”