One of the great things about books is you can afford to do anything.
George R. R. MartinRead
It is being common-born that is dangerous, when the great lords play their game of thrones.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Being born into common circumstances can be precarious in a society ruled by powerful elites.
This quote by George R. R. Martin reflects on the perils faced by common people in a world dominated by the ambitious and often ruthless actions of the elite. It suggests that the struggles of the ordinary are heightened when faced with the dangerous pursuits of those in power, particularly in a competitive environment reminiscent of a game, where stakes are high and the outcomes can be severe for those without influence or resources.
Themes
Common-BornDangerousGreat LordsGame Of ThronesEliteSociety
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about social inequality, this quote could illustrate the vulnerabilities of the lower classes.
More from George R. R. Martin
All quotes βI hate outlines. I have a broad sense of where the story is going; I know the end, I know the end of the principal characters, and I know the major turning points and events from the books, the climaxes for each book, but I don't necessarily know each twist and turn along the way. That's something I discover in the course of writing and that's what makes writing enjoyable. I think if I outlined comprehensively and stuck to the outline the actual writing would be boring.
George R. R. MartinRead
There is only one god and his name is Death. And there is only one thing we say to Death: βNot today.
George R. R. MartinRead
I did not do it. Yet now I wish I had.β He turned to face the hall, that sea of pale faces. βI wish I had enough poison for you all. You make me sorry that I am not the monster you would have me be, yet there it is. I am innocent, but I will get no justice here.
George R. R. MartinRead
But a voice inside her whispered, There are no heroes, and she remembered what Lord Petyr had said to her, here in this very hall. 'Life is not a song, sweetling,' he'd told her, 'You may learn that one day to your sorrow.' In life, the monsters win, she told herself.
George R. R. MartinRead
I write from this tight third-person viewpoint, where each chapter is seen through the eyes of one individual character. When I'm writing that character, I become that character and identify with that character.
George R. R. MartinRead
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