Absolute truisms rot brains absolutely.[...]'Power corrupts' is useless as a tool for understanding the past, and gives us nothing as a guide to action. Steven Brust More Quotes by Steven Brust More Quotes From Steven Brust It is always man's ideas which drive his actions. This has, at times, resulted in great evil; but as we look around us, we cannot doubt that it has resulted in greater good. Steven Brust evil men ideas To seek understanding before taking action, yet to trust my instincts when action is called for. Never to avoid danger from fear, never to seek out danger for its own sake. Never to conform to fashion from fear of eccentricity, never to be eccentric from fear of conformity. Steven Brust eccentric fashion understanding Don't explain why it works; explain how you use it. Steven Brust design use writing The struggle is always worthwhile, if the end be worthwhile and the means honorable; foreknowledge of defeat is not sufficient reason to withdraw from the contest. Steven Brust defeat struggle mean Always speak politely to an enraged Dragon. Steven Brust dragons speak In our memories, there is a graveyard where we bury our dead. They all lie there together, the loved ones and the ones we hated, friends and foes and kin, with no distinction among them. We have to mourn every one of them, because our memories have made them as much a part of us as our bones or our skin. If we don't, we've no right to remember anything at all. Steven Brust skins memories lying You have been asking what you could do in the great events that are now stirring, and have found that you could do nothing. But that is because your suffering has caused you to phrase the question in the wrong way. Steven Brust events suffering needs True heroics must be carefully planned - and strenuously avoided. Steven Brust avoided The others followed, and found themselves in a small, stuffy basement, which would have been damp, smelly, close, and dark, were it not, in fact, well-lit, which prevented it from being dark. Steven Brust found dark facts Most people seem to take pleasure in feeling superior to someone. I'm not like that, which pleases me because it makes me feel superior. Steven Brust please-me feelings people One nice thing about putting the thing away for a couple of months before looking at it is that you start appreciate your own wit. Of course, this can be carried too far. But it's kind of cool when you crack up a piece of writing, and then realize you wrote it. I recommend this feeling. Steven Brust nice couple writing Minneapolis has two seasons: Road Removal and Snow Repair. Steven Brust minneapolis snow two No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife between the shoulder blades will seriously cramp his style. Steven Brust wizards knives style Because here’s the thing: No matter how much one tells stories of magical beasts or impossible worlds, in the end, it is always the world of here and now one is writing about. The better one understands that world, the more powerful the stories will be. Steven Brust powerful stories writing Appropriate action means to advance your own goals, without unintentional harm to anyone else. Steven Brust goal action mean Plan. Yes. Good idea. I should come up with a plan. Steven Brust come-up should ideas There is no excuse for bad manners, except fast reflexes. Steven Brust reflexes no-excuses manners I'm told I'm very charming when people do what I want. Steven Brust charming want people All literature consists of whatever the writer thinks is cool. The reader will like the book to the degree that he agrees with the writer about what's cool. Steven Brust degrees book thinking Why do you work so hard to make yourself disliked? I should think you'd find it happens enough on its own without putting yourself to any extra trouble. Steven Brust trouble enough thinking
