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Rules for a Knight

by Ethan Hawke · 2015

An unforgettable fable about a father's journey and a timeless guide to life's many questions —from Ethan Hawke, four-time Academy Award nominee, twice for writing and twice for acting. A knight, fearing he may not return… more

30 quotes ★ 4.19 (6,269) Fiction

Quotes from the Book

Pay attention: what you need to know is usually in front of you. There are no secrets, just things people choose not to notice.
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You are always in the right place at exactly the right time, and you always have been.
22
Stand like you deserve to be here
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There have always been two ways to be rich: by accumulating vast sums or by needing very little.
17
...simple joys are the great ones. Pleasure is not complicated.
15
Like a dead branch falling from a tree, which them decomposes and nourishes the soil, your disappointments can transform into the elements of change and growth.
13
Which wolf will win?... whichever one you feed
11
Love. Love is the end goal. It is the music of our lives. There is no obstacle that enought love cannot move.
10
Humility. Never announce that you are a knight, simply behave as one. You are better than no one, and no one is better than you.
10
Habit, routine, and too much consistency numb our minds and pave the road for us to sleepwalk through our lives. Nothing stays the same. Everything passes, and everything changes. However, do not move too much. As an apple tree cannot bear fruit if it is too often transplanted, neither will a knight who is always building a new castle.
9
Speech. Do not speak ill of others. A knight does not spread news that he does not know to be certain, or condemn things that he does not understand.
8
Understanding that he relies on all that surrounds him, a knight is kind above all.
8
Often we imagine that we will work hard until we arrive at some distant goal, and then we will be happy. This is a delusion. Happiness is the result of a life lived with purpose. Happiness is not an objective. It is the movement of life itself, a process, and an activity. It arises from curiosity and discovery. Seek pleasure and you will quickly discover the shortest path to suffering. Other people, friends, brothers, sisters, neighbors, spouses, even your mother and I are not responsible for your happiness. Your life is your responsibility, and you always have the choice to do your best. Doing your best will bring happiness. Do not be overconcerned with avoiding pain or seeking pleasure. If you are concentrating on the results of your actions, you are not dedicated to your task.
7
Ordinary effort, ordinary result. ... Luck is the residue of design. Be steadfast. The anvil outlasts the hammer.
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It is the fact that time is passing that creates its preciousness.
6
Remember, a friend does not need you to impress him. A friend loves you because you are true to yourself, not because you agree with him. Beware of grand gestures; the real mettle of friendship is forged in life's daily workings.
4
Pride. Never pretend you are not a knight of attempt to diminish yourself because you deem it will make others more comfortable. We show others the most respect by offering the best of ourselves.
3
Arrogance is born of insecurity. Pride is different. It is born of dignity, self-worth, and self-respect. We all see the world through the prism of our identity. If our self-worth is low, it affects everything we do. The point of life is to contribute to others, but without a certain self-regard, it is sometimes difficult to make breakfast.
3
Those who cannot easily forgive will not collect many friends. Look for the best in others and yourself.
3
With practice, you build the road to accomplish your goals. Excellence lives in attention to detail. Give your all, all the time. Don't save anything for the walk home.
3
A knight sets out to illuminate the darkness in society, not from its leaves but from its roots. This is how justice will be realized. Find the source
3
Possessions can be, and most often are, a distraction from the real work of a knight's life. A lion doesn't own anything at all, yet we all know his power.
3
The peregrine falcon is the swiftest, most adept animal I have ever seen. It is worth noting that, like many bird, the falcon's bones are hollow. Travel light.
3
Jealousy, fear, and anger are all obstacles to a knight's first goal: a clear mind
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I learned that evening that rain falls equally on all things. Jealousy, fear, and anger are obstacles to a knight's first goal: a clear mind.
2
Look at this cup,” he said, pointing to the other small blue ceramic cup still sitting on the white tablecloth. “It is not overanxious to be filled. It sits patient, unmoving, and empty.” Carefully, he poured a small amount of tea into that cup. “You must be like this,” he stated with a mischievous grin, gesturing to the steam gently rising from the second blue cup. “Answers to your questions will come, but if you are not still and empty, you will never be able to retain anything.
2
THE quality of your life will, to a large extent, be decided by with whom you elect to spend your time.
1
Justice. There is only one thing for which a knight has no patience: injustice. Every true knight fights for human dignity at all times.
1
To head north, a knight may use the North Star to guide him, but he will not arrive at the North Star. A knight's duty is to proceed in that direction.
1
Oddly, with discipline, structure, and order, you will find freedom, anything is possible. Without it, locating your saddle may take all morning.
1

About Ethan Hawke

We have collected 58 quotes from 3 books by Ethan Hawke on BookQuoters.

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About the book

An unforgettable fable about a father's journey and a timeless guide to life's many questions —from Ethan Hawke, four-time Academy Award nominee, twice for writing and twice for acting.

A knight, fearing he may not return from battle, writes a letter to his children in an attempt to leave a record of all he knows. In a series of ruminations on solitude, humility, forgiveness, honesty, courage, grace, pride, and patience, he draws on the ancient teachings of Eastern and Western philosophy, and on the great spiritual and political writings of our time. His intent: to give his children a compass for a journey they will have to make alone, a short guide to what gives life meaning and beauty.

Book details

First published
2015
Genre
Fiction
Goodreads rating
4.19 (6k ratings)

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