In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help ... and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence. In their darkest hour, hunted... read more
The hero is Richard-the-Seeker, a woodsman with a magic sword. One day in his forest he rescues a woman pursued by assassins. She turns out to be Kahlan Amnell from the neighboring kingdom of Midlands who is seeking a wizard named Zedd to help her destroy the tyrant ruling her kingdom. Richard... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
“No one is as fanatical as a convert.”Kahlan
“Given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe its true, or because they're afraid it might be true. Peoples' heads are full of knowledge, facts and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true. People are stupid; they can only rarely tell the difference between a lie and the truth, and yet they are confident they can, and so are all the easier to fool.”Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander
“Many people must be ruled to thrive. In their selfishness and greed, they see free people as their oppressors. They wish to have a leader who will cut the taller plants so the sun will reach them. They think no plant should be allowed to grow taller than the shortest, and in that way give light to all. They would rather be provided a guiding light, regarless of the fuel, than light a candle themselves...some find, once that guiding light is lit, that they are wearing chains, and then it is too late.”Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander
“Wizard's First Rule: people are stupid”Zedd
“Queens bow down to the Mother Confessor.”Kahlan Amnell
“It was an odd looking vine.”First line in Novel
“Wizard’s First Rule: people are stupid.” Richard and Kahlan frowned even more. “People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe it’s true, or because they are afraid it might be true. People’s heads are full of knowledge, facts, and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true. People are stupid; they can only rarely tell the difference between a lie and the truth, and yet they are confident they can, and so are all the easier to fool.Highlighted by 100 Kindle customers
Sometimes, making the wrong choice is better than making no choice. You have the courage to go forward, that is rare. A person who stands at the fork, unable to pick, will never get anywhere.”Highlighted by 72 Kindle customers
“Because, Richard, many people must be ruled to thrive. In their selfishness and greed, they see free people as their oppressors. They wish to have a leader who will cut the taller plants so the sun will reach them. They think no plant should be allowed to grow taller than the shortest, and in that way give light to all. They would rather be provided a guiding light, regardless of the fuel, than light a candle themselves.Highlighted by 67 Kindle customers
People need an enemy to feel a sense of purpose. It’s easy to lead people when they have a sense of purpose. Sense of purpose is more important by far than the truth.Highlighted by 60 Kindle customers
“Everything is valuable under the right conditions. To a man dying of thirst, water be more precious than gold. To a drowning man, water be of little worth and great trouble.Highlighted by 55 Kindle customers
“There have always been wars, Richard. Every war is a murderous struggle between foes. And yet, no army has ever marched into battle thinking that the Creator had sided with their enemy.”Highlighted by 52 Kindle customers
Being afraid something is true is accepting the possibility. Accepting the possibility is the first step to believing. At least you are smart enough to question. Think of how easy it is to believe, for people who don’t question, who don’t even know how to question. For most people, it’s not the truth that is important, it’s the cause.Highlighted by 50 Kindle customers
“Life for the strongest. There is no sympathy for the slain, only admiration for the winner’s strength.”Highlighted by 34 Kindle customers
Wizard’s First Rule: people are stupid, they believe what they want to believe.Highlighted by 29 Kindle customers
And if Darken Rahl takes the whole world into madness, then we will die with a sword in our hands, not chains on our wings.Highlighted by 27 Kindle customers
Preceded by Debt of Bones, and followed by Stone of Tears.
This book contains some violence and a solid chunk is devoted to the torture of one of the characters (although it isn't horribly graphic), references to child molestation, and references to rape, as well as a scene where several men attempt to rape a woman.
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