Quotessence
Home / Authors / George R.R. Martin

George R.R. Martin Quotes

Author

Filter quotes by topic

AllA Song Of Ice And FireAsoiafFire And BloodGame Of ThronesDeathLoveHumorGrrmGeorge R R MartinTargaryen

Famous George R.R. Martin Quotes

“Don't fool yourself," he said to me then, his face flush with wine and darkness, "you're not missing nothin'. Lives are rotten stories, y'know. Real stories, now, they usually got a plot to 'em. They start and they go on a bit and when they end they're over, unless the guy's got a series goin'. People's lives don't do that no-how, they just kinda wander around and ramble and go on and on. Nothin' ever finishes." "People die," I said. "That's enough of a finish, I'd think." Korbec made a loud sound. "Sure, but have you ever known anybody to die at the right time? No, don't happen that way. Some guys fall over before their lives have properly gotten started, some right in the middle of the best part. Others kinda linger on after everything is really over.”

DeathLife And Living
Book:This Tower of Ashes
Create image

“An artist has an obligation to tell the truth. My novels are epic fantasy, but they are inspired by and grounded in history. Rape and sexual violence have been a part of every war ever fought, from the ancient Sumerians to our present day. To omit them from a narrative centered on war and power would have been fundamentally false and dishonest, and would have undermined one of the themes of the books: that the true horrors of human history derive not from orcs and Dark Lords, but from ourselves. We are the monsters. (And the heroes too). Each of us has within himself the capacity for great good, and great evil.”

Life Philosophy
Author:George R.R. Martin
Create image

“Shaggy,” a small voice called. When Bran looked up, his little brother was standing in the mouth of Father’s tomb. With one final snap at Summer’s face, Shaggydog broke off and bounded to Rickon’s side. “You let my father be,” Rickon warned Luwin. “You let him be.” “Rickon,” Bran said softly. “Father’s not here.” “Yes he is. I saw him.” Tears glistened on Rickon’s face. “I saw him last night.” “In your dream . . . ?” Rickon nodded. “You leave him. You leave him be. He’s coming home now, like he promised. He’s coming home.”

HomeDream
Book:A Game of Thrones
Create image

“How can you still count yourself a knight, when you have forsaken every vow you ever swore?" Jaime reached for the flagon to refill his cup. "So many vows...they make you swear and swear. Defend the king. Obey the king. Keep his secrets. Do his bidding. Your life for his. But obey your father. Love your sister. Protect the innocent. Defend the weak. Respect the gods. Obey the laws. It's too much. No matter what you do, you're forsaking one vow or the other.”

LoveLifeProtectRespectKingObeyKnightVowsJaime LannisterCatelyn Starks
Book:A Clash of Kings
Create image

“Justice.' Thoros smiled wanly. 'I remember justice. It had a pleasant taste. Justice was what we were about hone Beria led us, or so we told ourselves. We were king's men, knights, and heroes...but some knights are dark and full of terror, my lady. War makes monsters of us all.' 'Are you saying you are monsters?' 'I am saying we are human. You are not the only one with wounds, Lady Brienne. Some of my brothers were good men when this began. Some were...less good, shall we say? Though there are those who say it does not matter how a man begins, but only how it ends. I suppose it is the same for women.”

MenWomenJusticeMonsters
Book:A Feast for Crows
Create image

“They held each other close and turned their backs upon the end. The hills that split asunder and the black that ate the skies; The flames that shot so high and hot that even dragons burned; Would never be the final sights that fell upon their eyes. A fly upon a wall, the waves the sea wind whipped and churned — The city of a thousand years, and all that men had learned; The Doom consumed it all alike, and neither of them turned" ―Tyrion Lannister and Jorah Mormont, quoting a poem about the Doom”

MenDoomRagnarok
Book:A Game of Thrones
Create image

“Tyrion, I know we do not always agree on policy, but it seems to me that I was wrong about you. You are not so big a fool as I imagined. In truth, I realize now that you have been a great help. For that I thank you. You must forgive me if I have spoken to you harshly in the past.” “Must I?” He gave her a shrug, a smile. “Sweet sister, you have said nothing that requires forgiveness.” “Today, you mean?” They both laughed . . . and Cersei leaned over and planted a quick, soft kiss on his brow. Too astonished for words, Tyrion could only watch her stride off down the hall, Ser Preston at her side. “Have I lost my wits, or did my sister just kiss me?” he asked Bronn when she was gone. “Was it so sweet?” “It was . . . unanticipated.” Cersei had been behaving queerly of late. Tyrion found it very unsettling. “I am trying to recall the last time she kissed me. I could not have been more than six or seven. Jaime had dared her to do it." “The woman’s finally taken note of your charms.” “No,” Tyrion said. “No, the woman is hatching something. Best find out what, Bronn. You know I hate surprises.”

KissingPlanSurprises
Book:A Clash of Kings
Create image

“Man invents gods because he's afraid of being alone, scared of an empty universe, scared of the darkling plain... They've found God, or as much of a God as they're ever likely to find....Maybe it didn't create the universe, but it's love, pure love, and they say that God is love, don't they? Or maybe what we call love is a tiny piece of God. I don't care, whatever it is, the Union is it. The end of the search...”

LoveGodScaredAloneSearchUniverce
Book:A Song for Lya
Create image

“I know I want you," he heard himself say, all his vows and his honor all forgotten. She stood before him naked as her name day, and he was as hard as the rock around them. He had been in her half a hundred times by now, but always beneath furs, with others all around them. He had never seeen how beautiful she was. Her legs were skinny and well muscled, the hair at the juncture of her thighs a brighter red than that on her head. Does that make it even luckier? He pulled her close. "I love the smell of you," he said. "I love your red hair. I love your mouth, and the way you kiss me. I love your smile. I love your teats." He kissed them, one and then the other. "I love your skinny legs, and what's between them." He knelt to kiss her there, lightly on her mound at first, but Ygritte moved her legs apart a little, and he saw the pink inside and kissed that as well, and tasted her. She gave a little gasp. "If you love me all so much, why are you still dressed?" she whispered. "You know nothing, Jon Snow. Noth---oh. Oh. OHHH." Afterward, she was almost shy, or as shy as Ygritte ever got. "The thing you did," she said, when they lay together on their piled clothes. "With your...mouth." She hesistated. "Is that...is it what lordss do to their ladies, down in the south?" "I don't think so." No one had ever told Jon just what lords did with their ladies. "I only...wanted to kiss you there, that's all. You seemed to like it." "Aye. I...I liked it some. No one taught you such?" "There's been no one," he confessed. "Only you.”

LoveRomanceSexKissJon SnowYgritte
Book:A Storm of Swords
Create image