George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

"Most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it."

"A craven can be as brave as any man, when there is nothing to fear. And we all do our duty, when there is no cost to it. How easy it seems then, to walk the path of honor. Yet soon or late in every man's life comes a day when it is not easy, a day when he must choose. (Maester Aemon)"

"Death is so terribly final, while life is full of possibilities."

"When you play a game of thrones you win or you die."

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

"Some old wounds never truly heal, and bleed again at the slightest word."

"The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. If you would take a man's life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die."

"Winter is coming."

"A bruise is a lesson... and each lesson makes us better."

"Fear cuts deeper than swords."

"Bran thought about it. 'Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?''That is the only time a man can be brave,' his father told him."

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

"...How would you like to die, Tyrion son of Tywin?""In my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a maiden's mouth around my cock, at the age of eighty,"he replied."

"He drew the dagger and laid it on the table between them; a length of dragonbone and Valyrian steel, as sharp as the difference between right and wrong, between true and false, between life and death."

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

"Death is so terribly final, while life is full of possibilities."

"Laughter is poison to fear."

"I have a realistic grasp of my own strengths and weaknesses. My mind is my weapon. My brother has his sword, King Robert has his warhammer, and I have my mind… and a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge. That’s why I read so much, Jon Snow."

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