Quotes from Eldest

Christopher Paolini ·  704 pages

Rating: (286.5K votes)


“Live in the present, remember the past, and fear not the future, for it doesn't exist and never shall. There is only now.”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“Wise? No, I simply learned to think.”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“Those whom we most love are often the most alien to us.”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“Life is both pain and pleasure. If this is the price you must pay for the hours you enjoy, is it too much?”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“Avoid roasted cabbage, do not eat earwax, and look on the bright side of life!”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest



“Shall we dance,friend of my heart?"

We shall, little one.”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“I think it would dismay them to know what it takes to feed you. Not to mention that you could empty their cellars of beer and wine in a single night.' Eragon said.
I would never, Saphira sniffed. Maybe in two nights.
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“You cannot miss what you have never had.”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“I have a new name for pain.
What’s that?
The Obliterator. Because when you’re in pain, nothing else can exist. Not thought. Not emotion. Only the drive to escape the pain. When it’s strong enough, the Obliterator strips us of everything that makes us who we are, until we’re reduced to creatures less than animals, creatures with a single desire and goal: escape.
A good name, then.
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“The songs of the dead are the lamentations of the living.”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest



“They may fight with us, but they don't fight for us.”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“Only if you are afraid of looking foolish, and I would have looked far more foolish if I persisted with an erroneous belief.' Eragon said.
Why, little one, you just said something wise!'Saphira teased.”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“Half way down, he encountered Saphira, who had jammed her head and neck as far up the stair as she could, gouging the wood in her frenzy.
Little one. She flicked out her tongue and caught him on the hand with its rough tip. He smiled. Then she arched her neck and tried to pull back, but to no avail.
What's wrong?
I'm stuck.
You're... He could not help it;he laughed even though it hurt. The situation was too absurd.”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“We are about to change history, said Saphira.
We’re throwing ourselves off a cliff without knowing how deep the water below is.
Ah, but what a glorious flight!
(Eragon to Saphira)”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“It is better to be taught to think critically than to be told on what to believe.”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest



“A good compromise leaves everyone angry.”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“When you can have anything you want by uttering a few words, the goal matters not, only the journey to it. ”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“Talking with her is always...'
Different? suggested Saphira.
'Exactly.”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“After a pause, he asked, 'What do you think of Nasuada's plans?'
'Mmm...she's doomed! You're doomed! They're all doomed!'She cackled, doubling over, then straightened abruptly. 'notice I didn't specify what kind of doom, so no matter what happens, I predicted it. How very wise of me.' She lifted the basket again, setting it on one hip. 'I supposed I won't see you for a while, so farewell, best of luck, avoid roasted cabbage, don't eat earwax, and look on the bright side of life!' And with a cheery wink, she strolled off, leaving Eragon blinking and nonplussed.”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“Magic is the art of thinking, not strength or language.”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest



“A negative outlook is more of a handicap than any physical injury.”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“Never ask an elf for help; they might decide your better off dead, eh?”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“He tapped one of the ivory spikes between his legs and said, 'There be as good a way to lose your manhood as ever I've seen'.”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“Lifaen beamed and cried, “Isn’t she glorious? See how her scales catch the light! No treasure in the world can match this sight.” Similar exclamations floated across the river from Narí.
“Bloody unbearable, that’s what it is,” muttered Orik into his beard. Eragon hid a smile, though he agreed with the dwarf. The elves never seemed to tire of praising Saphira.
Nothing’s wrong with a few compliments, said Saphira. She landed with a gigantic splash and submerged her head to escape a diving sparrow.
Of course not, said Eragon.
Saphira eyed him from underwater. Was that sarcasm?
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“Whatever you make, base it upon that which is most important to you. Only then will it have depth and meaning, and only then will it resonate with others.”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest



“There is a proper way to greet the sentinels in Ceris, certain patterns and forms that you must observe when presented to Queen Islanzadí, and a hundred different manners in which to greet those around you, if it’s not better to just remain quiet.”
“With all your customs,” Eragon risked saying, “it seems as though you’ve only made it easier to offend people.”
A smile flickered across her lips. “Perhaps.”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


“If any honor existed in war, it was in fighting to protect others from harm”
― Christopher Paolini, quote from Eldest


About the author

Christopher Paolini
Born place: in Southern California, The United States
Born date November 17, 1983
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Popular quotes

“All Kellhus could see of his father were two fingers and a thumb lying slack upon a bare thigh. The thumbnail gleamed.
“As Dûnyain,” the disembodied voice continued, “you had no choice. To command yourself, you had to master circumstance. And to master circumstance, you had to bind the actions of the worldborn to your will. You had to make limbs of nations. So you made their beliefs the object of your relentless scrutiny. It was axiomatic.
“You realized those truths that cut against the interests of the powerful were called lies, and that those lies that served those interests were called truths. And you understood that it had to be this way, since it is the function of belief, not the veracity, that preserved nations. Why call an emperor’s blood divine? Why tell slaves that suffering is grace? It is what beliefs do, the actions they license and prohibit, that is important. If men believed all blood was equal, the caste-nobility would be overthrown. If men believed all coin was oppression, the caste-merchants would be turned out.
“Nations tolerate only those beliefs that conserve the great system of interlocking actions that makes them possible. For the worldborn, you realized, truth is largely irrelevant. Why else would they all dwell in delusion?
“Your first decision was elementary. You claimed to be a member of the caste-nobility, a prince, knowing that, once you convinced some, you could demand that all act accordingly. And through this simple deception, you secured your independence. No other would command you, because they believed they had no right to command you.
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