One of the great things about books is you can afford to do anything.
George R. R. MartinRead
In the game of thrones, even the humblest pieces can have wills of their own. Sometimes they refuse to make the moves you've planned for them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Even the smallest or seemingly powerless individuals can exhibit their own desires and choices, defying our plans.
This quote suggests that in life, much like in the game of chess or the series 'Game of Thrones', every individual or element, no matter how minor, possesses its own agency. This reflects the unpredictable nature of life and the challenges in controlling events or people, as they may act according to their own inclinations rather than following a predetermined path.
Themes
AgencyChoicesUnpredictabilityControlStrategy
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about leadership, this quote can illustrate the importance of recognizing others' autonomy.
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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