“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.”
― George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons

Over the years, I’ve spent more and more time reading novels. To such an extent that it has been my primary entertainment venue for the last 2-3 years. I love it immensely.

At any given moment, I have several splinters in my mind regarding projects and side-projects I want to tackle. One of these was some sort of registry with all the quotes I’ve liked over the years. Something I can look back a few years from now and smile. (Ah! The introvert life! What a life!)

I’ve decided to create a series of posts curating my kindle highlights. I could attempt to do the same with paper books, but it would be too much work for the scope of this small project.

Let’s start with one book from one my favorite series (if not my favorite): A song of Ice and Fire, A Game Of Thrones

Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.

Would you rather be called the Imp? Let them see that their words can cut you, and you’ll never be free of the mockery. If they want to give you a name, take it, make it your own. Then they can’t hurt you with it anymore.

I like these quotes from Tyrion Lannister so much they are one of the main inspirations behind a game I’ve been planning for quite some time.

Can a man still be brave if he’s afraid?” “That is the only time a man can be brave,” his father told him

Ah!…I love this quote. It has been my loyal companion since 2015, and it’s always in my mind whenever I’m stretching outside my comfort zone.

Speaking for the grotesques,” he said, “I beg to differ. Death is so terribly final, while life is full of possibilities.

Another quote from Tyrion Lannister. This one will be covered more in-depth some other time.

A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.

ANOTHER quote from Tyrion Lannister. You’ll probably see this quote again in some of the posts I’m planning about my own self-development.

Words won’t make your mother a whore. She was what she was, and nothing Toad says can change that. You know, we have men on the Wall whose mothers were whores.

A passage I should try to remember whenever I let words mess a little bit too much with my mind.

When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives. Summer is the time for squabbles. In winter, we must protect one another, keep each other warm, share our strengths.

Ah…Ned…how much I liked you.

Most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it, the dwarf had told him, grinning.

This is something I still have problems with, but I would like to think I’m getting better at it.

Pain is a gift from the gods, Lord Eddard,” Grand Maester Pycelle told him. “It means the bone is knitting, the flesh healing itself. Be thankful.

A good change of perspective is, sometimes, all that’s needed.

Craven or not, Samwell Tarly had found the courage to accept his fate like a man.

Sometimes I do need help accepting my current circumstances. I could use Sam and Tyrion’s advice on this one. Actually..this is one of the reasons why the events of “A dance with Dragons” felt so personal, but I won’t give any spoilers n_O

A bruise is a lesson, she told herself, and each lesson makes us better.

A good one to keep in mind when the times get dark

The man who fears losing has already lost. Fear cuts deeper than swords. Fear cuts deeper than swords. Fear cuts deeper than swords.

Ah..Arya Stark; One of my favorite characters. “Fear cuts deeper than swords” seems like a nice mantra to have just before a tough interview or any other “scary” situation.

The things we love destroy us every time, lad. Remember that.

What a pleasant way to be destroyed though.

“You stiff-necked fool,” he muttered, “too proud to listen. Can you eat pride, Stark? Will honor shield your children?”

I’m not exactly sure why I like this quote so much, but I do. I think…sometimes we hold onto very “important” things that might not be as important after all.

“All men must swallow the sour with the sweet. High lords and eunuchs alike.

This is a quote that’s very relevant when joining the “real world” after being a lucky student for so long.

I hope you liked this first post in a series of many many posts, and if you haven’t read “a song of ice and fire”, give it a try n_o