First Lord's Fury

A dangerous emotion, hope. Very, very dangerous.

Where there's a will, there is a way.

“A cynical man,” Marcus said, “would make mention of how much serving your people seems to resemble ruling them.”

“Strength is the first virtue,” Alera said. “That is not a pleasant fact. Its dis tastefulness does not alter the truth that without strength to protect them, all other virtues are ephemeral, ultimately meaningless.”

I find it remarkable how often amateurs confuse courage with idiocy.

That it is not surprising someone who has so thoroughly deceived herself about the truth can't recognize it when it is spoken to her.

Intentions count for far less than the consequences of the actions born from them.

...the expectation of victory breeds victory.

“That is because knowledge given freely to another is not really knowledge at all, Aleran,” Kitai replied. “It is rumor. One must learn for oneself.”

Can't just tell a soul it is free, Tavar. Freedom must be done for oneself. Important that the slaves created their own freedom.

Despair and fear are powerful foes. They can change you into something you are not.

There is more to strength than physical power.

“But it's scary.”
Amara did smile, then. “That's why you have to do it. Otherwise, instead of controlling your fear, your fear is controlling you.”

It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

But some things needed to be said before they could be truly real.
And some things couldn't be said. They had to be done.

Most wars, in the end, came down to the numbers.

“He could be dangerous.”
“Fools often are.”

Because it is the nature of love to be answered in kind. Especially by children.